Not sure about male nurses, but not having male primary teachers is a serious issue (at least in the UK). I keep hearing advice about guys getting into teaching kids (or really leading any kids activities) - "don't". Because the expectation is that you're likely a pedophile. Because doing something completely normal that gets some girl at school surprised will cost you time in court and being able to work with kids in the future. I'm not sure how often it really happens (anecdote != data, etc.), but I've heard enough stories of simple actions being misinterpreted with terrible consequences (I was going to teach some kids at the local sport club) that I really wish there were more male teachers. Just to break the idea that it's something unusual.
One of the local stories I heard was about a PE teacher who knocked on the girls' changing room and told them that whatever activities they were doing are starting. He didn't enter, just wanted to get their attention and shouted this through the door. Someone got scared by that, reported that he wanted to enter the changing room and that resulted in lost job - not sure if he was reported anywhere higher in that specific case. (it was mentioned in discussion between coaches, because the local club had changing rooms that had to be used)
Would the same thing happen if it was a female teacher? Probably not. Would it happen with female teacher and boys' changing room? I'd say highly unlikely.
Comments
Not sure about male nurses, but not having male primary teachers is a serious issue (at least in the UK). I keep hearing advice about guys getting into teaching kids (or really leading any kids activities) - "don't". Because the expectation is that you're likely a pedophile. Because doing something completely normal that gets some girl at school surprised will cost you time in court and being able to work with kids in the future. I'm not sure how often it really happens (anecdote != data, etc.), but I've heard enough stories of simple actions being misinterpreted with terrible consequences (I was going to teach some kids at the local sport club) that I really wish there were more male teachers. Just to break the idea that it's something unusual.
I'm curious as to what kinds of actions could be misinterpreted like that. Care to give an example?
One of the local stories I heard was about a PE teacher who knocked on the girls' changing room and told them that whatever activities they were doing are starting. He didn't enter, just wanted to get their attention and shouted this through the door. Someone got scared by that, reported that he wanted to enter the changing room and that resulted in lost job - not sure if he was reported anywhere higher in that specific case. (it was mentioned in discussion between coaches, because the local club had changing rooms that had to be used)
Would the same thing happen if it was a female teacher? Probably not. Would it happen with female teacher and boys' changing room? I'd say highly unlikely.