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ERIC Number: EJ818970
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jun
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0258-2236
EISSN: N/A
Superheroes v Demons: Constructing Identities of Male Student Teachers in the Early Years
Jones, Deborah
Perspectives in Education, v26 n2 p125-130 Jun 2008
This article presents research undertaken among male teachers and it explores their perceptions and experiences of working in early years contexts. It examines prevalent, contrary discourses and their impact on the construction of male teachers' identities. Public discourses in relation to male teachers reveal contradictions and ambiguities (Carrington et al., 2008). Men are conscious that many conflicting identities are constructed for them--from "Superhero" to "Demon". According to these data, male teachers seem unsure of who they are and indeed of who they should be within a school context. This uncertainty is, in part, a result of their awareness that various groups have the power to construct their identities in different ways. This article will discuss different identities constructed by, and for male teachers, and will argue that individuals may be limited as far as choice is concerned because of the power structures operating both within the primary school institution and in broader society.
Perspectives in Education. Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. Tel: +27-12-420-4732; Fax: +27-12-420-3003; e-mail: perspect@postino.up.ac.za; Web site: http://journals.sabinet.co.za/pie/index.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Primary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A