The stigma of being a male employed in childcare puts off potential nursery workers. This is despite the claim that most adults believe that men in the nursery are good for a child's development. Male workers consist of as few as 2% (3,000) of all early-years childcare staff currently working in the UK. Ray Alexander examines why there is a lack of male childcare workers. Low pay The idea of more male nursery workers has been welcomed Most West of Scotland men still find the idea of working with children in nurseries beneath them. Another factor preventing more men entering childcare is the low level of pay offered to staff which can be as little as just above the national minimum wage. There is also the issue of how men are perceived by the public and the huge stigma that is attached. When I underwent my training I can recall one parent saying to my manager: "I don't want a man to change my daughter's nappies". This contrasts starkly with findings from The Daycare Trust who say that 84% of parents would be happy to leave their children with male carers. Challenging and enjoyable Ross Adams, who has been a childcare worker for eight years and is now deputy manager of a Cheshire nursery, said he found the job challenging and enjoyable - but understood why he had few male colleagues: "I think the reason why more men aren't doing this kind of work is to do with social attitude and prejudice towards it...it's viewed as a female environment." With the large number of children brought up by single mothers there can be a lack of male role models within these families which can lead to social problems in adult life according to many. Survey results A survey conducted on behalf of The Children's Workforce Development Council in England in 2008 revealed that 66% of single mothers said they would like a man to be involved in their child's development. However, of the parents questioned, 59% said there was not a single man employed at the nursery to which they sent their child. The survey also suggests 17% of children have fewer than two hours of contact time per week with a male adult, and 39% have less than six hours a week. Just over half of those surveyed, 57%, said they believed men and women had different skills to offer young children in their care. Female dominated workplace Children's Workforce Development Council is calling for more men to consider working in early years settings. They say it is crucial for children under the age of five to have contact with a responsible male adult. A lack of information and advertising towards men has also kept nurseries a female dominated workplace despite the huge emotional rewards to be gained by helping children develop in their infant years. According to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg: "There is still a huge stigma attached to men wanting to work in childcare, even just for men who want to take a more hands-on role in providing care for their own children. For men wanting to actually work in the field, the social disapproval, even hostility that they often feel is a huge deterrent."



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