Gender and Teaching: Where Have All the Men Gone?

In recent times teaching has become an increasingly feminised profession and this book explores where the men have gone. The authors provide an in-depth analysis of the reasons why men are less likely to choose to become teachers through reviewing the gender balance of teachers in primary and secondary teaching in Scotland. They ask what are the barriers, both perceived and experienced; why should men be involved in teaching; why is male absence a problem? The attitudes of a range of people to teaching as a career are explored. These include male and female undergraduates, university careers officers, those involved in delivering and reviewing initial teacher education and teachers at various stages of their careers in primary and secondary schools. The authors explore how the gender balance in teaching can be changed and make recommendations that are likely to encourage more men to remain within or join the teaching profession. The problem of declining numbers of male teachers is not confined to Scotland and the lessons to be learnt from this study are of wide significance to teacher educators, recruiters and policy makers.