Now - this is not a current Eureka moment - but taking this class - made me think of "gender-type" moments and I've discussed this issue before - to get people's opinions. So here goes......
A number of years back - I work as a lead teacher at a local child care center. Unfortunately, like many child care centers, because the pay is not very good, "it's a revolving door" regarding staff. I was committed for the school year, but unfortunately, I went through a number of assistants throughout the ten months I was there.
At the center, we were "required" to take a one hour lunch break whether we wanted to or not (unpaid, btw), and at times, the assistants had to "break" other rooms. Okay, here comes the gender "glich". In the center, there is two infant room (babies 3 mos. to about 1 year). So, the assistants took turns breaking the two infants room workers for their breaks. No leads, just assistants - well at the center, there were predominately female workers - two guys worked there, one lead (a four year old teacher - unusual - but I had no problem with it) and one male 20 year old assistant - my assistant in the other 4 year classroom. So when it came time form my room's assistant to break the infant room staff, I was pulled because the (not states, rules) rule were that no guys were allowed to break the infant staff. They would have to change diapers and be near an infant's private area -- guys couldn't be in the room for breaks. Does that mean that only guys could be molesters - no one would think twice about putting a female in there. We were all finger-printed because you have to be when you work with children -- so there were no "crimminals" there - so what's the deal? What do you guys think? P.S. I did break that infant room a couple of times, until I went to the director and explained that was my planning time - so they just took my room out of the rotation! Solved the problem -- I don't think so????
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Robin,
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting that guys weren't allowed in the infant area. As if they couldn't molest older children. I know that my husband told me that when his niece was young and she wanted to sleep over his house, he would only allow it if his girlfriend was there. I was surprised but he said he thinks it's odd if a man has a kid sleepover that isn't his own. In today's world, I can see that but I was surprised he felt that way about his niece. He said it didn't matter that they were related, just what other people thought about it.
I would think the child care center wouldn't bother hiring men considering they can't do the entire job. That's unfair but they need to choose one: allow guys to do the entire job which includes the infant room or don't hire them at all and then the problem is solved.
And let's face it, even if you're all finger printed, that doesn't mean that no one is a molester - it just means they haven't gotten caught yet.
Taryn
Robin,
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your post the logical part of my brain says that it is definitely ok for a guy to watch children. If he was hired to perform this job he should be expected to do the same things as a woman attendant.
However I thought about it and wondered if I would feel better leaving my infant with a woman or a man and I am sad to say my first instinct is to say woman. I know what I am thinking is illogical but I think I would feel uncomfortable leaving my baby with a man …especially if he is a young man.
I think it is because I know that women tend to be a lot more maternal then a man would be, and I feel that infants need a lot of attention. Most of them are not potty trained and would need hands on help going to the bathroom, or their diapers changed and I don’t know if I would feel ok with a man doing that. Logically I know a woman is just as capable as a man of molesting a child but I think the stereotypes in my head have been reinforced by the men in my life and I wouldn’t be able to understand why a man would want to take care of little baby’s. The men in my family always say “They don’t do little babies.” My brother wouldn’t even pick up my son until he was two years old. Now they go out play ball and all kinds of things that boys do. So a man that wants to be around babies would probably put me on edge or make me suspicious.
I can see why this would be policy, even though it does not make it right. A man is just as capable and I know my brothers always changed diapers when their kids were younger. But in our society, this could cause problems. For instance, say some wacko parent accuses this male of doing something inappropriate? This could cause some liability problems. Not that a woman is not capable of this same behavior, but as a society, these are not behaviors associated with women. We are the caregivers and I would have to agree with Kesha, that I would probably be uncomfortable if I knew a male was changing my litte girls diapers.
ReplyDeleteI also want to state that I had a student in one of the alternative schools I worked at, thrown out of district because some girl accused him of making sexual remarks about her. This proved to be untrue and he ended up getting placed back in district. So I believe this policy at the daycare was probably in place for liability reasons, or at least I would hope so.
Robin,
ReplyDeleteThis particular policy that the daycare center had is very interesting. How could they, as you had already said, not allow other employees that they hired be excluded from their duties. It does not seem right at all. Are they accusing the male employees of sexual assaults without cause or justifications? Did they have a prior assault with a male employee? Maybe they enforced this because of a prior incident. The policy should be that no one whether male or female be alone with the children. There should always be two people in each of the rooms at all times because of incidents that could arise. But for this daycare to just rule out the male employees from particular duties is not fair.
-Nicole
Hi guys in response and answer some questions regarding my week 4 post.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't think there were any incidences where a male molested a child at the center. If this was the case, then maybe they would hire guys for the school in any room, not just the infant room.
And as far as changing diapers and nurturing young children, what about fathers who have to raise children by themselves because of circumstances where the mother is not able to be present in the child's upbringing? Does that mean a man can't be considered as being a nurturing caregiver or parent? Just food for thought.
Robin