Fyra manliga pedagogers tankar om genus och förskolans genusuppdrag
En kvalitativ undersökning
EqualityGenderGender assignmentMen in preschoolPedagoguesPreschool teacherFörskollärareGenusGenusuppdragJämställdhetMän i förskolanPedagoger
In this study I?ve used qualitative interviews to examine four male preschool teachers? interpretations of gender and their work with gender in preschool. Specifically, I?ve been interested in what thoughts male teachers have about the preschool gender assignment, how they express these thoughts in their work, and how they perceive their role as men in preschool in relation to gender and gender equality. The teachers express that the preschool gender assignment means that one should treat girls and boys equally and give them the same opportunities. Based on their interpretations they explain how they work with gender, that they´re trying to change the image of what?s feminine and masculine through interactions with the children by using the language as an instrument. Despite this, they seem to have difficulties presenting substantial examples of how to counteract gender stereotypes. Unlike previous studies, the teachers in this study express their awareness that the replication of gender is unconscious. They?re not certain if they treat girls and boys equally. The male teachers believe that their role as men in the gender assignment is to show children that regardless of gender one can do everything and that there isn?t anything that´s typically feminine or masculine.