Men in Early Childhood Education and Care | Palgrave Macmillan

What role can men play in early childhood education — and what does it take to truly achieve a gender-flexible early years workforce?

Men in Early Childhood Education and Care is a rigorous and timely academic text published by Palgrave Macmillan that examines the current and growing interest in recruiting and supporting more men in the early childhood education workforce. Drawing on extensive empirical data from case studies of an unusual English preschool setting and in-depth interviews with Swedish male preschool staff, the author explores the potential benefits to society linked to the increased presence of men in early childhood education — and how this might be achieved in practice.

Throughout the book, the author maintains a clear and consistent argument: that the potential of including more men in early childhood education can only be realised by gender-sensitive practitioners — both women and men — who are willing to create a gender-flexible pedagogy that moves beyond traditional roles and assumptions.

Key Themes

• Men in early childhood education — a focused and evidence-based examination of current interest in recruiting and retaining more men in the early years workforce, and the barriers and enablers involved
• Gender diversity and equity — an exploration of what genuine gender diversity in early childhood education looks like, and why it matters for children, families, and the profession
• Gender-flexible pedagogy — the author’s central argument: that meaningful change requires gender-sensitive practitioners committed to flexible, inclusive pedagogical approaches
• Empirical research and case studies — grounded in extensive empirical data from English and Swedish early childhood settings, providing rich, real-world evidence to support the analysis
• International perspectives — comparative insights from England and Sweden illuminate the cultural, structural, and professional factors that shape gender diversity in early years settings across different national contexts

Who This Book Is For

Men in Early Childhood Education and Care will be of interest and value to:

• Students studying early childhood education, gender studies, or education policy at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Academics and researchers working in early childhood education, gender and education, and related fields
• Early years practitioners, managers, and policy-makers interested in gender diversity, workforce development, and inclusive pedagogy in early childhood settings

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Format: Print
Genre: Academic / Early Childhood Education / Gender Studies
Suitable for: Undergraduate, postgraduate and academic researchers
ISBN: 9783319895383