Doing Masculinity and Professionality: Exploring the Intersectionalities of Gender and Professionalization in Early Childhood Education
Type
presentation
Date Issued
2013-08-30
Author(s)
Research Team
Alexandria Link
Publikationen
Publikationen
Abstract
Increasing men's presence in early childhood education is closely connected to expectations of as well increasing professionalization of the occupation. However, there is also a huge contradictory discourse constructing them as potentially dangerous, somehow suspicious or ill-motivated. Men are not only positioned by but also have to position themselves according to these contradicting discourses.
Using discursive psychology (Edley and Wetherell 1997; Davies and Harré 1990) as well as the concept of doing gender (West and Zimmerman 1987, Deutsch 2007) as theoretical framework, we analyze how our interviewees position themselves as male childcare workers by engaging in several discursive practices.
The results of the narrative interviews with ten male childcare workers will be introduced. The interviews focused on their entry into the organization, their perceptions of daily routines, and their experiences in the interaction with their female colleagues.
Six discursive strategies that men engage in were identified: Three refer to discourses of gender difference, two to equality/sameness and one strategy, which highlights professionalism, seems to move beyond this binary gender structure.
Using discursive psychology (Edley and Wetherell 1997; Davies and Harré 1990) as well as the concept of doing gender (West and Zimmerman 1987, Deutsch 2007) as theoretical framework, we analyze how our interviewees position themselves as male childcare workers by engaging in several discursive practices.
The results of the narrative interviews with ten male childcare workers will be introduced. The interviews focused on their entry into the organization, their perceptions of daily routines, and their experiences in the interaction with their female colleagues.
Six discursive strategies that men engage in were identified: Three refer to discourses of gender difference, two to equality/sameness and one strategy, which highlights professionalism, seems to move beyond this binary gender structure.
Language
English
Keywords
discourse analysis
gender
subject positions
male childcare workers
professionalism
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Event Title
23. European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) Conference: Values, Culture, Contexts.
Event Location
Tallinn, Estland
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
225387