Guys take on 'caring' professions (Part 2)

traditionally ruled by women
Part 2 of 3

So parenting is essential, and Zhu had a lot of experience being both mother and father to his daughter for seven years. When the girl was in second grade, her mother, also a gynecologist, left Shanghai to work in Macau for seven years.

Many Chinese people turn to grandparents for a lot of child-rearing. Not Dr Zhu.

"I do not approve of letting nannies or grandparents take care of children," he says. "Parents and children have a special bond. If we think of parenting as educating, then nannies and grandparents are clearly not good teachers."

Each night Zhu tucked his daughter in bed, and told her bedtime stories that strengthened the father-daughter bond.

"I never tell her exactly what is wrong or what is right, because it's very necessary for her to develop her own mindset and values and adopt new perspectives when looking at this modern world," says the doctor.

Zhu took his daughter on outings every weekend. She took an interest in piano, guitar, ballet, synchronized swimming and photography.

Now she has been admitted to the University of Sydney, majoring in medical science.

She wants to be a doctor, like her dad.

"I want her to see more of the world," he says, "and brace herself for the future." Real men teach kindergarten Nie Xin

Ten years ago it was weird to see a male kindergarten teacher. Most people thought men were not as caring and careful as women. And it wasn't manly. Teaching little kids was women's work, so they said.

Today, the prestigious China Welfare Institute Kindergarten in Pudong has 10 men on its teaching staff of around 70. Kids range from two to six years old.

The guys teach almost everything, drawing, singing, dancing, computer skills, swimming and sports.

Qian Gaofeng, 33, has taught kindergarten for more than 10 years since he graduated from Shanghai Normal University. There were only 40 men in the student body of 2,000.

His eyes light up when he's around children.

"I think playing, singing and dancing with kids is wonderful," says Qian who has been at this school for six years. "This profession is full of love."

"But 10 years ago people were shocked to see a male kindergarten teacher," he says. "Parents worried that men were not as careful as women and that their children wouldn't be well cared for."

Qian won them over, and some parents say they want both men and women teachers for their impressionable youngsters.

"We male teachers can be role models and establish a positive image of men," he says. "We can be very influential on kids' healthy development."

Qian got married in 2005 and has no children yet.

"My wife thinks I am too innocent and childish because of my job. She is afraid I cannot survive in this complicated society.

"But I can prove that I am a real man who loves life, job and family, and does his best in everything."

He says he is looking forward to fatherhood and says fathers should take a lot of responsibility in child-rearing. Parenting, he says, "is more difficult than giving birth."

China has more than 200 male kindergarten teachers, a minuscule number, according to Fang Ye, deputy director of the kindergarten. The figure was released at a recent national conference of male kindie teachers.

"People are not as surprised these day to seen male teachers," says Fang.

Men can never replace women in preschool education, but they can improve the system and make it more complete," he says.

Women are supposed to be gentle, men are supposed to be brave, firm and resolute, also tolerant. Thus, male teachers are supposed to have a good influence on boys.

Many years ago Fang was a male pioneer in preschool education and one of China's first male kindergarten teachers.

Today he wants to hire more men.

"I want a male and female tutor for each class of around 20 kids," says Fang. "Just like a family, we need a father and a mother to make the education environment complete."


Source: ShanghaiDaily.com