Today is International Men’s Day, celebrated on the 19th of November each year. Up until a few years ago I did not know it existed. I was much more aware and celebratory of International Women’s Day celebrated on the 8th of March each year. Often some naive and obnoxious men will often say when IWD celebrations take place “WELL, When’s international men’s day?!” I always love the replies that inform the uninformed that there is an international men’s day too. 

Anyway to get serious. I am proud to be a man in education. I often get asked how I feel working in a female heavy profession. Quite frankly the sex of the people I work with I often unnotice. What I don’t unnotice is the difference in treatment of educators based on protected characteristics. I stand as an ally with others and over the years I’ve become more confident as a result. Yes, we are a female heavy profession, but our profession is not equitable or inclusive towards women. 

Working in the primary sector in England, around 85% of primary school teachers are women, the remaining 15% are men. However, there is an imbalance in leadership towards females. However, if you go down to the early years sector and see that 3% of educators are men. It was something I was acutely aware of. I was also aware of the comments, attitudes and stereotypes towards men working in the primary and early years sector, particularly those outside of the profession.

For many years I have been connected with an organisation: Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs (MCTJ), an organisation with the overall mission to create a more gender inclusive workforce particularly in the early years and childcare sectors as well as primary, secondary and beyond. I have had the pleasure of being connected with their Founder and Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Claudio Sisera. Which started as a LinkedIn invitation, message, blog writer, event sponsor and now a friend who I always feel energised when connected with. Claudio supported the launch and first year of operation for Step Up heavily and continues to do so. You can read about the impact of MCTJ here.

Therefore, it was strange but in a nice way to attend a MCTJ face-to-face event, the first of its kind. An event for International Men’s Day with a cook off at the core of the event. 

After arriving late due to a morning coaching workshop, it was great to walk in as the founder of the organisation MCTJ were fundraising for (Lads Needs Dads), Sonia Shaljean was providing a welcome talk exploring the work of Lads Needs Dads and why it is needed within our society. The passion Sonia spoke with and the energy she shared around such work was inspiring.

This was followed by briefly catching up with another connection, Johnoi Josephs, Co-Founder of Black Men Teach. It was great to hear Johnoi running a workshop on ‘Redefining Masculinity’, building on the work BMT do. I always love hearing Johnoi and his co-founder, Albert speak. BMT is an amazing organisation.

In the coffee break, catching up with Mark Pritchard and Khamisi Coleman-Bramble as well as meeting many new people, I realised that I had never been in a pure early years and nursery setting outside of a school. As I walked around the LEYF Stockwell Gardens Nursery and browsed their marketing material it was great to see what a fantastic and progressive organisation LEYF is.

Shortly after, I had to leave (halfway through the pasta making masterclass), I had real FOMO watching the coverage of the event from social media. I know I will definitely be there next year. 

But the key message here is the need for organisations like MCTJ, to do things differently. To encourage and empower individuals and organisations to Step Up, particularly those from underrepresented groups. And ultimately to bring people together, connect and collaborate. 

Thank you MCTJ and Claudio for a Saturday well spent, I look forward to future International Men’s Day events.