Creating a System That Cares: A PRISMA Review and Road Map to Increase Men’s Representation in Early Childhood Education and Care

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68081740%3A_____%2F24%3A00598122" target="_blank" >RIV/68081740:_____/24:00598122 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2025-15674-001.html" target="_blank" >https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2025-15674-001.html</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/men0000486" target="_blank" >10.1037/men0000486</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Creating a System That Cares: A PRISMA Review and Road Map to Increase Men’s Representation in Early Childhood Education and Care

Original language description

Careers in early childhood education and care (ECEC) are stereotypically perceived as the work of women, and men less often pursue them. Consequently, men are highly underrepresented in child care work worldwide, and when men work in ECEC, they are often treated as 'other'-different from the feminine default. Yet, increasing men's representation in ECEC would bring various benefits such as reducing the rigidity of gender roles across society, addressing labor shortages, and increasing job opportunities for men. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we reviewed 120 qualitative, quantitative, and theory articles on redressing the issue of men's underrepresentation in ECEC from 2003 to 2023 to develop a theory-based road map of strategies to foster men's greater inclusion in these careers. Our review identifies key areas for systemic change in organizations, which educate and care for young children, and describes how action is required to professionalize child care, engage gatekeepers, and foster caring masculinities. Further, it highlights relevant issues to be aware of when designing interventions in this specific context, such as the valuing of 'women's work,' the importance of intersectional approaches, and the critical evaluation of intervention methods. To sustainably increase gender diversity in ECEC, our road map identifies actors that have the most influence and describes how efforts need to come from government, policymakers, organizational leaders, and broader society.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50101 - Psychology (including human - machine relations)

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Psychology of Men & Masculinity

ISSN

1524-9220

e-ISSN

1939-151X

Volume of the periodical

25

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

15

Pages from-to

451-465

UT code for WoS article

001300828100001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85205256438