How do children in nurseries learn to be boys or girls? Do men as preschool teachers bring a different impetus to the work compared to women? Using qualitative methods, the researchers will investigate “doing gender” in Swiss nurseries.
Background
Childcare services for preschool children have become more important in recent years. However, only few studies are available in this field, and gender aspects have hardly been investigated. This is surprising, as preschool teacher is a profession rarely chosen by men. Even more so, it is in preschool age, from 3 to 6 years, that children develop their first stable understanding of gender. For enhancing equality between women and men, it is important that children at this age are not restricted in their development through the transmission of stereotyped behaviours.
Aim
The researchers aim to investigate how interactions and everyday activities in the nursery tend to either emphasise differences between the genders or make gender differences retreat into the background (un/doing gender). For this purpose the researchers will conduct interviews and video-based observations at 20 preschool day care facilities in the German-speaking region of Switzerland at which at least one male preschool teacher is employed. They will then analyse the data with regard to the interactions between the children and the male and female teachers, the play activities offered and aspects of the nursery space. The focus lies not only on the extent to which gender-stereotypical toys or forms of interaction are used, but also on alternative practices. Furthermore, the study will examine whether male preschool teachers bring alternative forms of interaction to the nursery.
Significance
The research project will provide basic knowledge for gender equality processes in general and for the development of gender-awareness in early childhood education in particular.
Original title: Puppenstuben, Bauecken und Waldtage: “(Un)doing“ gender in Kinderkrippen
Grant: CHF 295‘496.-
Duration: 36 months
Project leaders
- Professor Julia Nentwich, Lehrstuhl für Organisationspsychologie, University of St. Gallen
- Dr. Franziska Vogt, Institut für Lehr- und Lernforschung, Pädagogische Hochschule des Kantons St. Gallen, St. Gallen