male child minder...would you use??

Takeaway_Addict

notanewuser wrote: »

Does the equality act actually say anything about applying to individuals receiving treatment of any kind?

What could the black male midwife do if somebody didn't want them to treat them personally? Sue the individual? Sounds unlikely to me
The trust couldn't use sex or colour as a reason not to employ, but individuals receiving treatment?

I don't know is the honest answer but what happens if the Black consultant takes it further because his employer didn't step in to prevent the blatent discrimination?

Spendless

Yes, I would use a male childminder. In the days when I needed childcare for eldest, I think a male childminder would have worked better for us.

I'd be less likely to use one for my own daughter, absolutely nothing to do with potential abuse etc, but purely because she gets on better with females.

There is a male childminder where I live, though he's part of a husband/wife childminding team. They didn't pick up from the school mine attended though.

Daisydares

I'm being honest, no I probably wouldn't use a male childminder. I don't know why, stupid unjustified prejudice probably.

My eldest had a male teacher at primary school and I worried how he would cope if she needed the lo or help with dressing, stupid really as he managed fine and if anything my dauber preferred him to any other teacher.

Toto

Daisydares wrote: »

I'm being honest, no I probably wouldn't use a male childminder. I don't know why, stupid unjustified prejudice probably.

My eldest had a male teacher at primary school and I worried how he would cope if she needed the lo or help with dressing, stupid really as he managed fine and if anything my dauber preferred him to any other teacher.

If the child needed the loo, no doubt he would say, go to the loo. If the child needed help with dressing, um, he would help. I really don't know what to say to be honest. I'm completely baffled by this sort of attitude.

Valli

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Is it their right and choice though? Would this not be protected under the equality act 2010 in that they cannot choose based on someone's sex?

In answer to your first question - yes it is, in exactly the same way that some patients prefer to see a doctor of a particular gender. The Equality Act covers employment; one cannot be selected (or, indeeed, deselected) for a role based on gender alone, although there are exceptions. But a patient can ask to see a medical professional of a particular gender, assuming one is available.

ViolaLass

Daisydares wrote: »

My eldest had a male teacher at primary school and I worried how he would cope if she needed the lo or help with dressing,

Probably in the same way that female teachers cope with boy pupils.

pigpen

Toto wrote: »

I'm a midwife and in my trust we have one male midwife. He gets some women who don't want a male midwife, which of course is their right and choice. But, I often find it slightly odd that no one seems to mind the male obstetricians.

I refused a male midwife a few times.. I didn't feel comfortable with them.. I was in labour feeling vulnerable anyway so refused to have them. It isn't like a male childminder would be wanting to rummage about in my undies!.. well... you'd hope I don't have the male obs. there either.

I was also asked by the GP surgery if I had refused to see an Indian dr because he was Indian.. it had nothing to do with his nationality more his general lack of usefulness and I felt another GP was better suited to dealing with my problem.

I know there were a LOT of raised eyebrows when a male nursery nurse took a role in the nursery.. tbh I think it is a really good idea to have male staff in nurseries and as childminders.. many children are lacking male role models for whatever reasons and they are important.

I wouldn't allow most of the female childminders I know look after my children (smoking mainly, but some just ignore the children and take to endless toddler groups so they don't have to look after them) I'm sure a man could do a perfectly adequate job as a childminder.. I'd give them a trial.

elsien

For all those piling in to argue with people who say they'd prefer a female childminder.
I don't have any particular opinion as I don't have children. But I'm guessing there's other people out there who have the same opinions/ prejudices, whether rational or not.
The OP is trying to get a picture of how much of an issue that might be. And if people think they're going to be attacked for being non PC, they're less likely to speak up, which kind of defeats the point of the first post, as then the opinions expressed might not be that representative.
Have the debate, by all means. But not in a way that's going to put people off answering, as that's unhelpful to the original query.

gingin_2

elsien wrote: »

.
The OP is trying to get a picture of how much of an issue that might be. And if people think they're going to be attacked for being non PC, they're less likely to speak up, which kind of defeats the point of the first post, as then the opinions expresses might not be that representative.
Have the debate, by all means. But not in a way that's going to put people off answering, as that's unhelpful to the original query.

Well said. I wanted to say similar but couldn't have put it as well.

jammother

This is one thing that is a bugbear of mine: people commenting aggressively that women can be child abusers too. Indeed women can be !!!!!philes but the figures state that this is only the case in 5 to 10% of cases. In half of those cases there is a male perpetrator alongside the female abuser (the two cases mentioned Rose West and Myra Hindley are perfect examples). Men are statistically more likely to commit child abuse and so it is natural that someone would be more wary of leaving their child with a man than a woman. I'm not saying it is right, just that given the facts, parents are more suspicious of men than women.

My two children have only been looked after on three occasions in three years by OH's family members. But I was abused by a family member for 12 years and find it hard to trust anyone to look after my children - so I would be reluctant for them to left with either a male or a female child minder for long periods of time - at school they would not be left alone with a teacher of either sex. I know first hand how abuse destroys your life.

OP I'm sure you'll make a great child minder and it's great you want to work and be a father and a role model.