Male Pre-School Teacher Candidates in the Context of Gender: Perceived Challenges and Future Concerns

The study aims to examine the views of male pre-school teacher candidates about difficulties they experienced and problems they think they will encounter in their professional live based on gender. In 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years in Early Childhood Education degree program in Turkey, 137 boys were reached. Participants were asked about their demographic information and views related to challenges they had experienced as a male student in the department and they think they will encounter in their professional lives. Content analysis of the participants' difficulties experienced as a male student in this department reveals that participants had difficulty in personal relations and communication due to being in a minority in the class, they encountered the sexual reaction of the society, the faculty members and those who experienced no difficulties. Content analysis of the difficulties that the participants think they will face in their professional lives shows that parents and society will be prejudiced against male pre-school teachers, concerned about the education system and the loss of performance due to their personal / professional inability, and some did not think they would have any problems. Results and suggestions have been discussed together with similar research findings in gender context.