Parents’ views on the appointment of male teachers in Turkish pre-schools

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to examine parents’ opinions about having their children taught by male preschool teachers in Turkey. A questionnaire was used as the data collection tool method with a purposive sample of 207 mothers and 139 fathers. In the kindergartens where their children were educated, there were 218 female and 128 male teachers. In the statistical analysis of the study, a Pearson Chi-Square test and frequency distributions were used. The findings of the study reveal that the majority of parents do not attribute particular significance to the gender of their children’s teachers in preschool education institutions although a considerable number of parents still regard preschool teaching as ‘women’s work’. Female teachers are preferred because of the adherence in society to stereotyped and traditional gender roles. The findings reveal that encountering a male teacher affects parents’ preferences in favour of men. Parents whose children receive education from male teachers believe th...