Masculinity, sexuality, and resistance

Procuring Gender-Situated Voices of Male Early Childhood Professionals in Canada

“…Case in point, the supposition that male ECECs constitute a sexual threat is identified within Sargent’s ( 2004 ) study as the single greatest hinderance to increasing male participation. Similarly, Eidevald et al ( 2018 ) and Bhana et al ( 2021 ) report that trepidations about sexual misconduct allegations acutely impact retention of men in the sector. Central to this is ‘moral panic’, which is society’s exaggerated and persistent response to an inflated social threat (Tufan, 2018 ).…”

“…Gender and sex are complex constructs, from both sociological and biological perspectives (Chrisler & Lamer, 2016 ; Schudson et al, 2019 ). For some sex is based on biology with males having an XY, and females an XX, chromosomal makeup (National Human Genome Research Institute, n.d), whilst gender is socially constructed and adaptable based on temporal, cultural, and social factors (Bhana et al 2021 ; Weaver-Hightower, 2011 ). The complexity and interplay of sex and gender therefore cannot be understated as radical revisions surrounding sex, sexuality, and gender, continue to morph in current day (Schudson et al, 2019 ; Young & Shipley, 2020 ).…”

“…Despite this, an ECECs annual salary is less than half that of a kindergarten teacher’s (Atkinson Centre, 2022 ; Hardwood & Tukonic, 2016 ). While inequities for women ECECs demand ongoing attention, most notably because men by virtue of their gender experience these challenges in the general workforce to a lesser extent (Bhana et al, 2021 ; Cameron, 2001 ; Sargent, 2004 ), it is also critical to draw attention to gender-driven marginalization that men face when they work with children in their formative years. Prevalent to these disenfranchisements is the categorizing of male ECECs as sexual threats, male role model constraints, double standards, disapproval, and burnout.…”

“…With reference to male ECECs the most salient theme uncovered in the literature pertains to fear of being accused of sexual misconduct due to society’s propensity to view them as a sexual threat (Bhana et al, 2021 ; Eidevald et al, 2018 ; Foster & Newman, 2005 ). Case in point, the supposition that male ECECs constitute a sexual threat is identified within Sargent’s ( 2004 ) study as the single greatest hinderance to increasing male participation.…”

“…This trend translates to the Canadian context where in the province of Ontario only 1% of the ECEC workforce is held by men (Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, n.d.). Central to this phenomenon are the unique obstacles that men face, by virtue of their gender, including being habitually scrutinized by colleagues and parents (Bhana et al, 2021 ; Hedlin et al, 2019 ), and labelled as a sexual threat (Anliak & Beyazkurk, 2008 ; Moosa & Deevia, 2020 ; Pruit, 2015 ). Furthermore, male ECECs experience negative physical, psychological, and occupational symptoms of burnout more routinely than their female counterparts (Sak, 2018 ; Salvagioni et al, 2017 ).…”