Father knows best as single dads tackle the other glass ceiling

Dads' group members Don Crinson (left) with son Merlin and James Vincent with daughter Ashley. Photo: James Boddington

Charles Areni was shopping alone in a city department store between Monday meetings when he realised he was being watched.

His three-year-old daughter Jacqueline was running low on underwear and he had stopped in to buy her a few more pairs.

Areni, a single father, looked over his shoulder as the security guard approached to ask what he was doing in the children's section.

''He asked me, 'Don't you have a job?', and I said, 'Yes I do! Is there a problem?' somewhat angrily as I became aware what was happening.''

Professor Areni says the security guard could not imagine a father would shop for his child's clothes; instead, he saw a pervert.

''Men in general are assumed to be depraved or likely to be foul in some way,'' the University of Sydney academic said. ''Being a good father, demonstrating the ability to love and nurture children, doesn't allow an escape from this sinister suspicion.''

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He'll Be OK: Growing Gorgeous Boys into Good Men – MHV’s first regional PD and community tour (Victoria)

Immediately following the Victorian Male Health Gathering, keynote speaker Celia Lashlie embarks on a speaking tour to seven locations across Victoria.  She will present her observations arising from The Good Man Project, in which she visited 25 New Zealand boys’ secondary schools to examine how best adults in all capacities can help teenage boys have the best chance of becoming great men, husbands/partners, fathers, community members, etc.

These events will be free of charge or a small charge might apply in some venues.  In six locations Celia will present a Professional Development session for teachers, youth workers, police youth officers, etc. in the late afternoon.  In the evening she will address parents and anyone at all who is concerned with adolescent boy development and/or may have missed the PD session in the afternoon.  In Mornington there is only the one general session at 6.00 pm.

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Male, presumed dangerous

Battling stereotypes … preschool worker Craig d'Arcy has set up the Males in Early Childhood Network Group. Photo: Greg Mace

As a young man eager to get into a boom industry with a robust future, Craig d'Arcy spent several years as the only male studying childcare alongside more than 100 women at TAFE and university in Newcastle.

Early in his career, his childcare centre boss told him parents had highlighted in yellow on their child's enrolment form they wanted no male worker to go near their offspring. Two decades on, as founder of the national Males in Early Childhood Network Group, d'Arcy has heard about centres that ban men from changing nappies and is used to people thinking those who want to work with the young are either gay or have evil intent.

So he easily recognised the vein of fear about male contact with children that popped up when two men went public recently about their embarrassment over airline staff moving them away from unaccompanied minors.

"The stereotype is that men are predators who are looking for opportunities to abuse young children," says d'Arcy, who is co-ordinator of a Mullumbimby preschool and has six children of his own. "There seems to be that automatic assumption."

Most of the 2900 men who make their living caring for under-fives butt up against these assumptions regularly in a way that their 100,000-plus female counterparts do not, he says.

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'Daycare Dads' (Channel 7 TV News story - video)

Channel 7 News Sydney reporter Sally Bowrey reports on the increase in the number of stay-at-home dads, but the lack of social services to support them. Broadcast on 12th June 2012.

Best selling author seeks fathers with teen or preteen girls for book about fathers and daughters

Any fathers with teen or preteen girls: how would you like to be interviewed for a book about fathers and daughters?

The best selling author of Puberty Girl is working on a book focusing on the important role of fathers.

http://www.shushann.com/

http://www.letstalkgrowingup.com.au/

Shushann has worked with girls and their parents for the past 20 years and feels that the 'father hunger' in many girls around puberty is underestimated. Read more about what she means in the attached letter.

Everything is confidential and it would be an interesting and insightful experience taking part in this.

If you are interested, please feel free to contact Shushann directly on 0410 324 134 or via her website.