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    A recent study suggests that young men hold distorted views about the level of interest other men have in early childhood education and care careers. Findings show sexual orientation stereotypes and misunderstood peer beliefs reinforce the lack of men in caregiving roles.
    Science

    A recent study suggests that young men hold distorted views about the level of interest other men have in early childhood education and care careers. Findings show sexual orientation stereotypes and misunderstood peer beliefs reinforce the lack of men in caregiving roles.

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    14 Comments

    1. Admiral_Dildozer on

      Im in my early 30’s and I’m male. I didn’t go to school for it or really have any professional experience being a caregiver. But I have been my Grandmothers caregiver for over 5 years now. She is 86 and has vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s. I’ve noticed a slight stigma when we meet people working in healthcare who arnt familiar with our situation. But no horror stories, just maybe an odd look and some hesitation about my competency. I get it, her occupational therapist told me she’s be visiting homes for over a decade and that she can’t even remember meeting a Grandson being a 24/7 caregiver before.

    4. Jidarious on

      Years ago my 10 year old son and his friend ran off when we took a family trip to Great Wolf Lodge and I had to wonder all over this hotel/water park looking for them as a single middle aged father. The place was absolutely packed and it took me a good half hour to find them and I was the only unaccompanied adult male I saw. Some might think it was in my head, but I swear I kept getting sidelong glances from all of the moms and employees the whole time. Every time I would enter another room or area of the hotel I found myself wanting to say “I’m harmless, I’m just looking for my son!”.

      I’m glad I didn’t go into a care giver career. I think I’d have been a perfectly good care giver, I just don’t think society wanted me to be one.

    5. NeurogenesisWizard on

      Basically saying ‘yes society is a cult yes toxic masculinity is a real thing no not all masculinity is toxic just toxic masculinity yes, people are really below 100iq in usa if iq were averaged from europe, somehow this includes with the uk bringing it down

    6. greenmachine11235 on

      I think its worth noting there is no societal attempts to change this. No programs or organizations to push boys and young men in that direction like there are to push girls and young women toward fields they’re traditionally underrepresented in. 

    7. AdhesivenessFun2060 on

      A couple I know bailed on a daycare because they found out a guy worked there. He wasnt there when they did the interview. First day, they were picking up the kid and saw him. Complained to the women about it and withdrew the kid.

    8. reganomics on

      I was a prk teacher for 8 years and now have a masters in ed and work as a HS sped teacher at a public school. I would say that another influencing factor for men entering the caregiving or education field is the pay scale and salary for teachers and caregivers. It is low and not competitive at all. I make a decent living but in my hql area, I make below the poverty line. It’s nuts

    9. fladermaus210 on

      I’m a gay guy and terrified to be around children because anyone could think the way my family thinks and accuse me of something

    10. psycharious on

      I used to work as an ABA therapist. I got to see the list of preferred therapists and people widely only wanted women therapists. Also, one time, when a kid went to neck me (slap my neck) at a school I worked in, I turned around in time to block. Evidently, some yard duty thought I was making an inappropriate gesture….so I got to have a talk with the principal who then threatened me. Yeah, I left that job soon after. I think a huge part of the problem is that people in general, no matter how progressive or traditional their views are, still on average see all men as potentially dangerous and assume bad intent if they go into a field that’s not seen as masculine. This just enforces negative stereotypes.

    11. Nope-yep-No on

      Yes – but also men are not going into care work because the pay is terrible. Pink collar jobs and the most demanding and underpaid jobs out there

    12. BigOlPenisDisorder on

      Men have had police called on them for playing with their own children in the park under the assumption that they’re sexual predators.

      I don’t blame them really.

    13. Overthinkingfreedom on

      I drive a big truck for a living and wear a uniform so I get to use the air horn and wave at the kids. Makes my week and honestly I have a couple of families that I see regularly and become familiar with. I can only do this in uniform or if I have my daughter with me, otherwise it’s considered “weird” and I hate it. Baby giggles and coo’s are the best and somedays I just want to quit my job and become a daycare provider… but I don’t think it makes people very comfortable so alas I keep doing what I’m doing.

    14. Stalins_Ghost on

      Mate, I couldn’t even get a retail service job because I was big and ugly when I was young. No, say they will let me near a carers role, haha. That said, heaps of dudes in carers’ roles in Australia now since it’s the latest gold rush.