Exploring career challenges for male educators in early childhood
54:12 Share

Mattie talks about transitioning from one career to another and the challenges of working in both a male dominated as well as a female dominated workplace. The ups and downs are discussed, including prejudices and stereotypes, as well as making a positive impact through valuing differences, and Mattie’s current work around supporting his setting in becoming a centre of excellence. Read Mattie’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/exploring-career-challenges-for-male-educators-in-early-childhood/)     Support for men: To support men in early childhood further, we have partnered with Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs as part of this episode and ongoing podcast series on 'men in early childhood'. Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs advocate for greater male participation in education and caregiving roles, offering support and guidance to enhance gender inclusion in nurseries and schools. To find out more visit: https://malechildcareandteachingjobs.co.uk/)   Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: The emotional toll of gender stereotypes on male educators – Simon Airey – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-emotional-toll-of-gender-stereotypes-on-male-educators) What is it like being a man in early childhood – Kevin Nelson – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/what-is-it-like-being-a-man-in-early-childhood/) Men in early childhood home page: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/articles/men-in-early-childhood/)   Episode break down: 00:00 – From flipping burgers to leading a pre-school class 04:00 – Drastic gender imbalances in both hospitality and early childhood 09:00 – Feeling accepted and welcomed in early childhood 11:00 – Becoming a centre of excellence and re-writing the curriculum 23:50 – The value of self-reflection for personal and professional growth 26:00 – Job satisfaction and similarities between hospitality and early childhood 30:00 – Working in partnership with parents by taking a step back 35:00 – A generally positive experience of working with parents as a man 38:00 – Questions around sexuality from parents 40:00 – Role modelling differences as a positive 47:00 – Finding your own path in the early childhood profession 49:00 – Working in a service industry and making a difference to people’s lives For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com)