What can managers do to integrate men into the nursery workforce? Mary Evans offers solutions
When men choose to work in childcare, where they are outnumbered 99-1 by women, they are hailed as good role models for the children. But are their female colleagues as welcoming and helpful as they should be to this minority group? According to the study Men in the Nursery, by the Thomas Coram Research Unit at London University's Institute of Education, men found their managers and staff teams supportive but they felt isolated and excluded from the 'women's talk' in the staffroom.
The researchers also found the women were often unaware they were treating their male co-workers differently. For example, the women surveyed believed the jobs were shared out equally, while the men were adamant they were asked to carry out different tasks such as fixing things and changing light bulbs.
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