The Opinions of Male Pre-school Teacher Candidates on their Occupational Preferences: An Analysis in the Context of Gender

Authors : Özlem Haskan Avcı, Tolga Zencir, Alper Karababa, Faruk Bozdağ, Seray Betül Öztürk

Pages : 33-48

View : 16 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2018-01-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aims to examine the views of male pre-school teacher candidates about the conditions influencing their occupational preferences in depth. For the purpose, a questionnaire including demographic information and open-ended questions was implemented to 112 male students in the pre-school education department in the 2015-2016 academic year in Turkey. Open-ended questions were asked regarding the causes of choosing the department, the difficulties those encountered in the department selection process and their support, career plans for the future and opinions about the proposals to candidatesdesiring to prefer the deparment. As a result of the qualitative analysis of the reasons for the participants’s pereference for the profession, the themes of the research shows that “the bussiness oppurtunities which the profession provides” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=57, %=34.13);, “being interesting in working with the children” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=51, %=30.54);, “being interested in the teaching” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=21, %=12.57);, “prefer the suitable profession in line with the University Entrance Exam score” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=20, %=11.98);, “the guidance of the family and teacher” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=11, %=6.59);, and “uninformed preference” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=7, %=4.19);. And also, it was revealed that the participants were those who supported them insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=61=, %=41.50);, obstructed persons insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=60, %=40.82); and those who did not have an influence insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=26, %=17.68); when they preferred the profession. In the analysis of the participants` career plans, the themes were determined as being a teacher in the state institution insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=62, %=37.35);, in the private sector insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=5, %=3);, being a school director insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=38, %=22.90);, establish a private pre-school education institution  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=28, %=16.87);, having an academic career insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=28, %=16.87); and having no certain goals insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=5, %=3);. In the qualitative analysis of the participants’ suggestions to candidates preferring the pre-school education, the themes, such as those who suggest choosing in terms of the interest and the ability insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=74, %=47.74);, those who suggest being considered independently of gender insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=62, %=40);, those who do not suggest the department for men insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=15, %=9.68);, and those who are irresolute insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(n=4, %=2.58);, have been found out. The results have been discussed together with the findings of the similar studies in terms of the gender and the beneficial suggestions for the literature have been made.
Keywords : Pre school education, early childhood, male pre school teacher candidates, gender, male gender roles, career choice