Despite what is said, despite what is advertised, men are not wanted in care fields, working in care capacities, where there are children involved. He can apply, he can try to volunteer, he can do all these things to put himself in for the line of work, but staff to child ratios, gender ratios, age ranges, and other bureaucratic paper and tape block his ability to put himself into that line of work. Males can't work in care with girls. If there are more girls in the room, a female staff is preferred. Males can't work in care with young children. If there are more toddlers in the room, a female staff is preferred. In most situations, a female staff, applicant, body, or candidate is preferred.
This is true as much for Big Brothers Big Sisters as it is for the Scouts--gender barriers across the board. It seems the only place for males who desire work with children is in their detention and rehabilitation centers, where the population is normally older male youth anyways. Where confrontation abounds, males are expected to line up. Where there are colorful rooms with small tables, males are to keep at a distance.
In the 21st century, an era where bridges are being built by females, society has all but prevented males from working with its children. It won't be surprising that at least some part of the rest of the 21st century will be spent unraveling the negative effects of this cultural predator panic that has done nothing but separate children from positive male role models for the last couple decades. Perhaps our children will stem this tide, perhaps they will continue it.
This is what the pedophilia scare does to our society, a direct result of it too. Men are treated as potential monsters and they are not preferred because of it. Even though there are female molesters out there, people don't care because they believe that men are the dangerous ones.
ReplyDelete