Male staff in nursery’s

[Itsoneofthose]

Ok, hear me out.. I know this is controversial but today I was shown around a nursery for the first time. I’m dreading leaving my little one, only because I’ll miss her and worry about her. I don’t think my worry is out of proportion or anything like that though. But today I saw two male nursery nurses. Now, I know there are many men who are great with kids, and not all men are a threat to children (obviously) and women can also potentially pose a threat to children but I just don’t know how I feel about male nursery staff. Hmmm. I know I’ll be shot down in flames for this. Nursery’s are well regulated etc etc. I just can’t help feeling a bit uneasy about the whole thing. Has anyone else experienced these thoughts? AIBU

I was never a fan either but its how it goes these days. Kinda gives you the ick.

For asking a question and generating discussion- openly asking for opinion? Your inability to make a valuable contribution, and tolerate a question with insulting someone makes it quite clear that it is in fact you who is unhinged. What a waste of a response.

YABU but I understand where your thoughts are coming from. Because it is not the norm to see a man working in a nursery (it’s not a role it seems most men want to do) you feel suspicious as to the motives of a man who does want to do it.

For what reason for example would a man want to work in an environment where there is no other male amongst their colleagues? I would think most men who enjoy working with children would choose a primary school or a sports coaching provider, where they would likely have some male colleagues.

So this leads you down a route of thinking, why does he want to work there, I wouldn’t want to be the only woman working in a garage (for example), and coming to the conclusion that it could be for disturbing reasons (even if in reality it likely isn’t).

Thanks. I knew I wouldn’t be the only one. Seems it’s a taboo question to ask.

My daughter had a male key worker the whole time she was in nursery and she just adored him. She is 8 now and goes back into nursery to collect her little cousin sometimes and her face still lights up when he comes over and makes a fuss of her. 😍

Unreasonable. It's becoming more common. It's also good for kids to not just have female influences.

This old chestnut.

It's almost as though half the children they'll be looking after will be male. 🤔

God they're all out tonight! You can tell because they always post in AIBU.

Similar in care homes as well. Most carers are female but you do get a few males and of course you can express a preference for female only for personal care. There's also something ick-worthy about a 25 year old bloke wiping your grandma's arse after a toilet trip. Don't ask me why, it's just kinda wrong.

Yes. My post seemed suggestive but I’m genuinely curious. Of all the minimum wage/relatively difficult jobs, why choose that.. it may be purely for the love of children. I’m not totally closed minded, butttt, I dunno. It’s food for thought.

Because it's wrong to assume that all men are child molesters!!!

The initial thought is ick. I must agree.

if you don’t like it go elsewhere rather than try to drum up support against it

Grow up for goodness sake.

It might be wrong to you. . . Can’t help but be cautious though as you never know these days unfortunately :(

Is it equally icky having a 25 year old woman wiping your grandads arse?

All my 3 loved the male nursery staff as did we. They flourished and I still benefit at primary from male teachers and in extra curricular activities.

Yabu

Or, and prepare for this because it might make your brain explode, maybe they chose it for the same reason women choose it.

So only women are ok for minimum wage jobs?😱

Why?

No thats absolutely fine cos since the dawn of time nursing and caring has been in the female domain. I guess it comes from nurturing and caring which are more female traits than male ones.

No, no at all. Please don’t send the thread off at a tangent.
What I meant was ‘of all the jobs’

There are probably few males in nurseries because of attitudes like yours.

A notorious case of abuse in a nursery was carried out by a woman.

Why does a man want to be a dad? Most sexual abuse to children is carried out by a family member

You are enormously unreasonable. There were two male nursery nurses at my son’s nursery and both were exceptional at their jobs. I trusted them absolutely. And I never ever thought they were a risk of any kind to my son. Quite the opposite- I was thrilled that there were male staff modeling the potential for men to take on caring roles, to my son.

As an aside, the only cases I can remember of nursery staff abusing children in the UK, the nursery staff who were convicted, were female.