Gender Gap: Desperately Seeking Male Child Care Workers

[sysop]

Germany is spending loads of money to recruit male child care workers, launching expensive employment campaigns to attract more men into the profession. Many parents want their children to be educated by both men and women, but low wages mean efforts have met with little success so far.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...854311,00.html

[Nick1980]

"Germany is spending loads of money to recruit male child care workers, launching expensive employment campaigns to attract more men into the profession. Many parents want their children to be educated by both men and women, but low wages mean efforts have met with little success so far".

The content of this article is really problematic. First, men and women are not biological constructs but social roles. For example, a single male with two children can take over the role of both a man and a woman. The Bundesregierung, however, emphasizes sex (Y Chromosome) over gender. But what is the point? Is it really that important to have someone with a penis or is it important to educate children in such a way that both girls and boys are equally successful in society? Although girls are doing better in school and women have shown higher intellectual performances in international tests than men, women are hardly found in manager positions and they rarely get a professorship. Isn't it important to avoid the pink stereotype in girls? Boys can be adventurous and they can talk back and do anything. They can "beatbox," object to requirements and they can enjoy a dominant role in society.
The real problem is also emphasized in the article itself: Women who need a degree to work in childcare only earn up to 2200 Euro and no one cared about this until males without degrees are suddenly "needed." Now they think that 2200 Euros are not enough.
It is clear that the Bundesregierung wastes money on the wrong end without addressing gender inequality. Especially in Germany women still earn significantly less for the same jobs men are doing and girls are told that it is important to be quiet and lovely. While gender inequality needs to be addressed in German society, it is important to start with the problem of the lack of women in leading positions. It is also important to look at the intersectionality between gender and other identities.
Finally, I do not think it is a good idea to employ people without the educational training (only based on the Y Chromosome or a penis). The children will be impressed by the "beat boxing" for a few days only...Anyway, the children should be the center of attention and not a one day performer who worked in a bank...