The managers and staff at Rossett House Nursery where I work are very supportive of my role within the setting and I have never felt isolated or excluded from any aspect of the job. We all work closely together as a team and I have never been treated any differently from my female colleagues. I am involved in all the 'women's talk' in the staff room and am often asked for my valued opinion.
We all go out socialising together and are good friends. We all work as a team and as equals. I don't feel I am asked to carry out stereotypical male tasks such as changing light bulbs or fixing things, and I disagree with the comment that a man can focus on only one task at a time. I feel I can juggle many tasks at any one given time and I'm sure my colleagues would agree.
It has been difficult getting to where I am today and to gain the respect I now have. Society's perception of the male role has played a large part in it . But I certainly don't feel less of a man for doing this type of work.
But I do agree that a man has to establish good communication between himself and the children's parents, as it is often difficult for them to accept him as a professional nursery nurse and not as just a 'weird man'.
Alan Jones. Rosett, Wrexham
