Male nannies/childminders

I am sure there are men who are great who work with kids. But given the high level of child sexual abuse in this country and that it is well documented that paedophiles seek out positions where they will have contact with children, then I understand mothers being worried about men working with young children.

A year ago I was visiting different nurseries in my area trying to decide which one to send my PFB to when I returned to work.

One nusery I really liked and almost signed up for really turned me off when I spoke to the manager. I asked her about staff and how many male staff she had. She made a face, said she always throws applications from men straight in the bin and that she "is wary of men wanting to work with young kids."

My face looked like and I told her she was wrong in her thinking and discriminating.

I didn't send my child there, surprise surprise.

DH teaches in a middle school and has honestly, truly had people raise eyebrows at him and ask him if he 'doesn't worry that people will assume the worst' because he 'admits he's always wanted to work with kids'

Honestly. Truly. This has happened more than once. And, sadly, when he was deciding between a B.Ed in Primary education and the PGCE route, it was attitudes like that one: "errgh, you want to work with kids, you must be a peeedo'' that pushed him towards secondary teaching. He loves middle school but I think (overfondly, perhaps) that it's a crying shame primary teaching can't have him. He's so good with younger children.

I think men aren't encouraged towards work with children, both from overt attitudes like that, and from more covert 'chilling effect' stuff like it never being mentioned, never suggested as a possible career, no male role models doing it, etc etc. Also I imagine a lot of boys see wiping bums and poor pay and think: no, ta. Women are often encouraged towards 'caring' jobs/ careers that pay badly with the expectation that they'll love the work so much that they won't mind the pay is rubbish. Men tend to expect to be paid well for good work. Not saying this is a great thing, but I am saying I expect this is another reason they don't move towards teaching/childcare.

We use a male babysitter, lovely high-schooler we've known for 3 years now, super young man. If I were in the market for a nanny I'd certainly consider a male one. As it is, DS goes to daycare and absolutely all the adults he sees all day are women. He's obsessed with our youngish (20s) male neighbour, hero-worships him, and I realised that he doesn't actually see that many men, socially, apart from DH and the fathers of his friends, when we go on playdates.

It's a terrible shame.

Unfortunately most men realise how difficult it is to be employed as male childminders/ nannies.

The fact is, we may be logical, rational people but many are unable to justify their desire for a male child care worker beyond the doubt of...well....they're male?? They can't be as good at their job as a woman?

Obviously this is ridiculous but this is how many think. Having worked as an au pair I can attest that the number of families even willing to view males were a miniscule minority. Most want women, as the 'safe' option.

Lottapianos, can I have the name of this nursery manager? Perhaps she can train my husband.

On the topic - I always wonder why there are no male nursery workers and childminders. I've never seen one at least. Is the profession considered so incredibly masculinity-destroying? I struggle to get my head around it. It is storage as I see plenty of men around me who are very fond of children.