Article 2006

Where are the men? gender segregation in the childcare and early years sector

National Institute Economic Review
Journal · Vol. 195 · Issue 1 · pp. 103-117
Abstract

Men are a small minority of childcare workers, and this has contributed to skills shortages which have affected the sector’s ability to meet rising demand. The paper looks at current initiatives aimed at recruiting men, particularly through the Government’s National Recruitment Campaign, and the benefits which might be gained from their inclusion in the workforce. It explores the barriers to men’s employment in the sector, including men’s own perceptions of gender roles and attitudes towards ‘women’s work’. The paper identifies a range of measures which might lead to greater effectiveness in both recruiting and retaining men to the sector. © 2006, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

employment Gender segregation Men childcare stereotyping

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
National Institute of Economic and Social Research, United Kingdom, London, United Kingdom
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 OECD Thematic Review of Early Childhood Education and Care Background Report for the United Kingdom, (2000)
2 Cameron, Claire, A review of staffing in childcare centres in six countries, Early Child Development and Care, 137, 1, pp. 47-67, (1997)
3 Cameron, Claire, Promise or problem? A review of the literature on men working in early childhood services, Gender, Work and Organization, 8, 4, pp. 430-453, (2001)
4 Daycare Trust, (2004)
5 Men in the Nursery Gender and Caring Work, (1999)
6 Entry Retention and Loss A Study of Childcare Students and Workers, (2001)
7 Childcare Students and Nursery Workers Follow Up Surveys and in Depth Interviews, (2001)
8 Cameron, Claire, The child care workface: Current conditions and future directions, Critical Social Policy, 22, 4, pp. 572-595, (2002)
9 Early Years and Childcare International Evidence Project, (2003)
10 Who Says Men Cantcare, (2004)
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