Microaggression is a new term to me. It is not something that I had ever heard of before yet once learning what it was, I knew what it was- if that makes sense. A microagression are racial, gender, sexual, or disability related inferiors that people partake in yet often in an unconscious manner (Laureate Education, 2011). At the time that this occurred, I did not know that it was a microaggression although I knew that it was an act of discrimination. I wrote about this example in my reflective journal this week.
When I was a childcare center director, I had a few make teachers that worked for me. One was a preschool teacher, one was a school age teacher and one would float and work in all classrooms. There were a few different occasions in which families would come in for a tour of the center and when they saw the male teachers, their demeanor would immediately change. I remember one time I had a mom say to me “Does he actually work here?” When I told her yes that he was actually one of my best teachers she said to me, “Why would a guy want to work with preschoolers? That does not set well with me, we will have to look elsewhere” This made me so angry and I told her that she was entitled to her opinion and that her family would probably not be a good fit for our program because we do not discriminate against who we hire, we look at experience and qualifications. Needless to say, I did not hear back from her.
With this type of microaggression, she clearly was using her inferiority to verbalize her opinion on something although she never came out and said why she would not want her children around a male teacher. She did not consciously offend the teacher by saying he was some time of child predator, but by not wanting her children in a program with a male teacher, certainly makes the assumption that she is concerned of his true intentions of being a preschool teacher.
ecepassion 
Hello Michelle
The parent reaction to the male teacher would be consider gender micro aggression. I think parents respond this way because of the terrible things that have happen to children in the past. I talk to my baby and children when I have to assist them in cleaning them up. This week reading resource has been very informative and be very helpful in my daily life.
That is too bad that the family had that reaction. I really like when we have a male teacher in the mix because it provides a great role model for the kids. Unfortunately, there are a lot of stereotypes in jobs that need to be eradicated concerning gender.
Rhana,
I have heard this notion that a guy should not teach in early childhood center not as gender discrimination but because i think they say that it is a natural role of a woman to cater for kids and that women will care better and the fact that there is a high percentage of a male care giver giving in to the temptation to fiddle with the female child reproductive organs. Think about this.
I understand how you feel. I have two male teachers in two different child development center that I visit. Parents have a great respect for what they do. Now both of these men work with two’s and up. I’ve seen them potty girls and it was done with the assists of a female teacher. I believe it is their preference to have someone with them.