To think male nursery workers should be banned for safety reasons?

[Carla786]

I KNOW most men who work in them are fine but sexual abuse in nurseries is overwhelmingly committed by men. No more men, much less abuse risk.
Yes we need more CCTV etc to watch bad women but it cuts SA risk immeasurably.

We can still have male primary teachers etc kids are old enough to speak up then.

And yes, you can ban on the basis of sex for safety reasons. In women's refuges, eg.

Great post.

Some are... But the poll has narrowed dramatically since I returned...

Most definitely can't agree that most men who work in nurseries are not good ones. I'd agree the other way around. A few men who work in nurseries are an issue, not most. Same with women.

No-one needs to be restricted. Cameras in every room, two workers present at all times (though this hasn't always protected children). There are plenty of ways that are not that hard.

What's your point? If it were women who were more likely to sexually abuse I'd say ban them, even if it hurts girls' feelings.

But it's not.

In nursery settings? On what do you base that opinion?

You misunderstand my point- I don't think I put it very clearly, I'm sorry.

To clarify : MOST men who work in nurseries ARE good. But bad men are disproportionately likely to work in nurseries. The while concern is about that,NOT because I think MOST men in general, or most men who work in nurseries, are bad.

You just see the same thing about in primary schools too, complaining they shouldn’t be teaching younger than year 3 or whatever (I’ve no idea the actual year they say as I think it’s ridiculous).

Some discrimination is justified. We don't allow children to work because of their age. We require people over a certain age to retake their driving tests. And so on. Some groups of people are suitable for some activities, others not. It's case by case not just omg discrimination = mean and bad. In this specific case and for reasons provided at length, men should not be nursery nurses

But bad men are disproportionately likely to work in nurseries.

What are you basing this statement on? Statistics or just your own opinion?

It's interesting as the previous AIBU where I discussed this was far more unanimous.

Yet since I returned the poll has gone from firmly BU to nearly 50-50.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5437394-ban-male-nursery-workers

OK, fair enough. I think it's not that easy to get away with things in most nurseries but there are obviously cracks that some are finding to take advantage of.

Here, underlining mine.

research shows men with a sexual interest in children are disproportionately more likely to work with children, including in early education and care. Data shows that one in 20 men in the Australian community are motivated offenders (individuals who reported both sexual interest in and offending against children). However, they are almost three times more likely to work with children compared with other men.

Those who deliberately pursue employment with children to abuse them are often referred to as “professional perpetrators”. These individuals typically have multiple victims and pose a high risk of repeated offences

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/04/childcare-centres-must-put-child-protection-above-profits-and-fears-of-appearing-biased-against-men

I hope not...

You're quoting Australian stats though!

Some of these comments astonish me honestly. The naivety is off the scale. Let's say safeguarding (cameras, changing babies in line of sight of everyone, two workers at a time and so on) was faultless. You don't think paedo men who literally design their lives around their perversions wouldn't try their luck and access these jobs anyway? You'd be ok with this hypothetical bloke touching your child because it's fine he can't actually do anything? I wouldn't risk my child breathing the same air as someone like that if I can possibly help it

I think comparing dog bites to rape and sexual abuse is really offensive and minimises sexual abuse.

And as other posters have pointed out, we do in fact ban the breeds of dog most likely to harm people (particularly children).

Is it better here though?

They don't have signs saying they are 'like that', do they?

Why do you think British ones might differ significantly? Are Australian men are unusually perverted?

Yes, I mean, even if there were perfect protection, I'm unfortunately sure loads of paedophiles would still volunteer and talk about it on the Dark Web afterwards. 🤮

Exactly

Exactly, that's why they need to be banned.

It's completely different when talking about dogs.

Saying that though, I'd never have a rescue dog as you don't know their background and if they might suddenly turn.

If you get a puppy, you raise it. You know it's temperament, you tend to know your own dog inside out. Even then, I'd never leave it alone with a baby/toddler (and I'm talking gentle breads).

Leaving your toddler with a male nursery worker is, using your reference to dogs, the equivalent of leaving them alone with a rescue dog. You've no idea what could happen.

No. Which is why the easy fix is to say no men in nurseries. Period. It's not worth the risk

Who knows, but you can't categorically state that men intent on abusing children are disproportionately likely to get jobs in nurseries here when you're basing your statement on a report about Australian offenders. It's disingenuous.