Male Childcare Workers as Promoters of Diversity Conclusions from a qualitative analysis in German Early Education and Care institutions

ABSTRACT

Based on videodata of play situations between children and professionals, a qualitative analysis of gender socialisation of boys in German EEC (Early Education and Care) institutions has been conducted. The theoretical and methodological framework of this research is an attempt to describe gender identity as an interactional phenomenon, which is situationally flexible but at the same time affected by structural persistence. Coming from this conceptual basis, qualitative video analysis was used to examine and interpret the data. The results can be understood as a rationale for male childcare workers as promoters of diversity. Emphasising the micro-level of sociality in theory and research allows diverse interpretations of gender, instead of describing dichotomous polarities.

KEYWORDS:

• Early childhood education
• interaction ritual
• habitus
• identity
• felt body

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. These two qualities can be distinguished in German by the terms Körper (physical body) and Leib (felt body). In this article the words ‘felt-bodily’, ‘corporeal’ and ‘affective’ are used to describe the latter aspect in the context of social action.

2. Even women and men as dichotomous categories in the data is arguable, at least from the perspective of a social constructionist point of view (West and Zimmerman 1987). But, as the intention of the research is both to gain knowledge of men in Early Childhood Education and to contribute to an ongoing discussion, these categories are necessary. Otherwise, any gender study would be impossible. Nevertheless, it should be admitted here that there is an unresolved contradiction when social research attempts to get beyond gender binaries while using binary terms (Meuser 2010, 68).

3. All professionals and parents of the participating children have granted permission via consent form. Published samples of the videotaped material have been anonymised.

4. It is helpful to transfer the data and the preliminary coding scheme into software that supports empirical analysis. The essential sequences are also transcribed in detail (Tuma, Schnettler, and Knoblauch 2013: 80ff.).

5. Bourdieu (1990, 128) speaks of ‘inductive states of the body which, as actors know, give rise to states of mind’. This hypothesis is supported by the considerations of the Portuguese-American neurologist Antonio R. Damasio (2006, 304–305): The physiology of the whole body and not just that of the brain is involved in the thinking of the individual.

6. In German, this material is called „magic wool“ (‘Zauberwolle’).

7. The hammer represents the work of miners and blacksmiths and, symbolically in the guild marks of these occupational groups, signifies a stereotypical male meaning context. As a weapon for combat, the hammer also has male connotations and symbolises power as well as strength. In Germanic mythology it is linked to the thunder-god Thor. In addition, it has symbolic relevance in the present day to mark the binding conclusion of a business transaction, e.g. at auctions (Lurker 1991, 273–274).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.