There are far more children nowadays who come from oneparent families and, generally speaking, those one-parent families have a female parent rather than a male parent. These children aren't getting a male role model at home or at nursery and school because of the predominantly female workforce. They aren't seeing how adult men and women behave and react towards each other.
However, unless more is done to improve the pay, working conditions, training, career development and status of nursery staff, I fear that men - and, increasingly, women - will not be attracted to childcare as a profession.
I also think that there is still work to be done to change public perceptions of what has traditionally been seen as a 'female' role. The problem is self-perpetuating. As children go through nurseries with predominantly female staff, they've grown up perceiving it as a female profession. So when young men come to choose their own career, they don't tend to think of childcare because they see it as 'female'.
There should be procedures in place in all nurseries to ensure all staff are treated equally and to safeguard both children and staff. If staff and parents know, and are happy with, for example, policies on toilet procedures or nappy changing, any prejudicial attitudes or concerns can be addressed and a positive atmosphere created that will enhance recruitment.
There isn't an instant answer to this. It's like slowing down an oil tanker and turning it round. There's a marketing job to be done to encourage people to understand that being a childcarer is an appropriate role for a man.
One day, I hope that nobody will give a second thought to men working in nurseries.
IAN PROUD, West Denton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
