Fun guy and possible perpetrator: an interview study of how men are positioned within early childhood education and care

The aim of the study is to investigate gender-specific notions related to male kindergarten teachers and how men relate to these notions. The following research questions were asked: (1) What gender-specific notions of men are expressed in kindergarten teachers’ conversations about physical touch? (2) What different ways can men deal with these ideas?

The results indicate that ‘the funny man’ and ‘the potential abuser’ are two gender-specific positions the male informants are placed in. Physical contact between male kindergarten teachers and children can be perceived as suspicious and is a sensitive matter. Male kindergarten teachers may feel pressured by the children’s parents to be ‘the funny man’. There are high expectations for men to bring something masculine to work, in this case it is associated with playing and joking around/having fun. Men position themselves as being physically cautious, safe or within the heteronormative ideal of not being seen as a potential abuser.

The empirical data material consists of interviews with 50 informants. 17 of the informants were men and 33 were women. Thirty of the participants were experienced kindergarten teachers, while 20 were newly qualified kindergarten teachers or kindergarten teachers about to complete their education.

Hedlin, M., Åberg, M. & Johansson, C. (2019). “Fun guy and possible perpetrator: an interview study of how men are positioned within early childhood education and care.” Education Inquiry, 10(2):95-115.