Professional love and gender : the beliefs and practices of male and female pre-service and in-service kindergarten educators in Malta

Abstract

One key responsibility for educators in early childhood education is the creation of fruitful and meaningful pedagogical relationships with children. To shed more light on the interactions that take place in early childhood settings, notably the caring behaviours of educators toward children, Dr. Jools Page originated the phrase "Professional Love" (Page et al., 2015). With the aim to explore the contrasts and similarities between male and female educators' beliefs and practices of Professional Love, this study looked at how pre-service and in-service educators in Malta interpret and experience it in Kindergarten settings (settings for three to five-year-olds). The research design used for the study was qualitative. Semi-structured interviews with eight male and female pre-service and in-service Kindergarten educators working in local Kindergarten settings, as well as a scrutiny of both local and international literature, were used to meet the research objectives. The study's conclusions underscored the complexities in defining concepts of love and Professional Love in early childhood settings. The ways that male and female participants expressed Professional Love in their daily work varied, as did the reasons why and the degree to which educators engaged in such behaviours. The interviewees, particularly the males, identified the challenges encountered in demonstrating affectionate behaviours. The interviewees' main concern was about gender inequalities and the challenges that they present to early childhood educators. Other restrictions that were also related to gender include the fear of false accusations, and the opinions of parents and the school administration. Guidance, creating a common understanding, and raising stakeholder awareness regarding Professional Love and gender in the early years are highlighted. Implications for research, policy, and practice are also discussed.