Male Babysitters: Time to Stop the Stigma?
When the words ‘babysitter’ or ‘nanny’ are spoken, people automatically think of some warm, motherly, Mary Poppins type figure. Not that there is anything wrong with that, after all, we as a generation have been raised to relate that particular stereotype to the care needs of our children. We tend to trust this type of figure with our children. What happens, however, when we come across a male babysitter or nanny? Do we automatically have the same level of trust? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is a resounding no to a lot of parents and families. The reason for this is there is a certain level of stigma attached to the idea of men wanting to be involved in the care of children that are not in their family unit. Suspicion is high in these situations. Let’s discuss the most uncomfortable bit first. Some people, whether consciously or not, automatically assume that the reasons are sinister, that the man in question must have a hidden sexual agenda. This is both ...