Gender and distribution of educational values among the staff in kindergartens |
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| Authors: | Bent Olsen Eli Smeplass |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway;2. Department of Sociology and Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway |
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| Abstract: | The article reports and reflects on a study of kindergarten staff member’s gendered attitudes. The empirical part consists of answers to a questionnaire from some 700 staff members of all 80 kindergartens in two Danish municipalities. The theoretical approach is informed by the framework of Pierre Bourdieu and the Mary Douglas’ Grid Group Cultural Theory. The common strong point of view is that men are an exceptional educational resource in kindergartens and for the sake of gender equality on the labour market, one is to promote a higher proportion of male workers in kindergartens and in several other sectors, where women commonly are in the majority. We examine these premises in respect of Denmark and Norway and then confront the notion of kindergartens to be gender-segregated in pedagogical and professional terms. In conclusion, it is proposed a renewal of the starting point of the educational gender research. |
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| Keywords: | Educational values gender profession preschool teacher Bourdieu |
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