I feel society as a whole does not understand young men wishing to become childcarers. Ever since at age 16 I decided to become a childcarer I have had my sexuality questioned almost weekly. This has become very wearing. Is this aspect easier for men who join the profession after starting a family?
Another reason I am considering leaving is that in the county I work in there are two male childcarers - I am one of them - and we have both been through a social services investigation at different times after being reported on the grounds of sexual abuse. Both cases were thrown out at the earliest stage of the investigation. Fellow childcare professionals have told me the incidents would not have been reported to social services had I been a woman. I believe it, because my colleague and I have never heard of a female childcarer going through this process in our many years of experience.
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