Calling My “Maleness” Into Question

• In Event: Male Teachers as Cultural Workers in the Lives of Children, Families, and Communities

Abstract

While there are always exceptions, men teachers are different than female teachers. The reasons for these distinctions generally have to do with socialization, gender identity, and genetics. While this does not mean that men are more effective teachers than women or conversely that women are better than men, it does indicate that men have something completely different and extremely valuable to offer Early Childhood Education (ECE). With this framework in mind, the presenter reflects on his personal path as a teacher.

Along this path, he found himself grappling with questions that pursue many male educators; specifically, he wondered whether he was a good teacher because he interacted with children in appropriate ways and developed and implemented developmentally appropriate activities, or whether he was considered a good teacher because he was male. The question of tokenism came into play, and at a certain point he had to make the difficult decision whether to remain in the classroom where he was needed as a male in ECE, or whether to ride the “glass escalator” to a professorship in ECE.

He chose to pursue doctoral work in ECE in part because of the opportunity to recruit more men into teaching ECE. Whatever the strategy, it is important to get the message out to boys and young men that being involved in a child’s life, as a teacher or father, is expected and typical. In fact, the relationship between teacher and father (or parent in general) is one of mutuality. Parents know their child the best and are in fact the child’s first teacher and should be valued as such. Nonetheless, teachers need to be secured in their beliefs, and while they must listen to parents, they must not meet their every demand.

In considering his path, the presenter also considers his own father and the experiences he had as a child. An individual’s experiences help shape who they are and what they believe they can accomplish or explore with regards to their profession. In sharing his experiences through this research, the presenter will provide the audience with the opportunity to help engage in this exploration and come to a better understanding of the profession as a whole.

Author

• Robert Michael Capuozzo, The University of Alaska - Anchorage