DJ Sowerby breaking gender barriers with ECT role

Donald (DJ) Sowerby has made a name for himself in his local community of Gisborne, New Zealand, attracting attention for his career choice, and securing a prestigious award.

 

He recently shared his story with the New Zealand Herald. Find the original coverage of the story here. 

 

Mr Sowerby is one of only three per cent of men to take on a career in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in New Zealand, embracing his position in the sector later in life. 

 

While he said that initially he could never have imagined he would be working with children, he now, at 49 years of age, “can think of nothing else he’d rather do.”

 

As a father of two, he recognised the value of providing children with a strong start in life, pivoting from his former career as a vision and hearing technician for the B4 School Check Programme at Hauora Tairāwhiti.

 

His efforts in studying for a graduate diploma in early childhood teaching have been noticed, with Mr Sowerby recently being awarded the Men in ECE Invitation Award.

 

The award is designed to attract men to a career in ECE and make them feel welcome in the profession, chief adviser to the Office of Early Child Education Dr Sarah Alexander explained. 

 

Low male representation in the profession makes it difficult to attract men into ECE teaching because they do not see other men in this line of work, she continued, particularly in the Gisborne region.

 

Although men are needed in the ECEC sector because of the teacher shortage,she said, the compelling reason was the educational value and social development benefits for children of having men present and involved in early childhood teaching.

 

“Boys need to see people of their gender, people like them, in the early childhood centre.”

 

“All children ought to be seeing that early childhood teachers can be both men and women.

 

“Until men are well represented in early childhood teaching, children are learning from a young age that it’s women’s work and not a role that men can perform too.”

 

This is a perspective shared by Mr Sowerby.

 

“I did not realise how gender roles were socialised at such a young age until I started working in ECEC,” he said.

 

“I believe it is an important part of my work to impress on tamariki (children) that they do not need to rely on these roles to determine their future, and that it is important that they follow their dreams no matter what they might be.”

 

At times getting back into the world of study has been difficult, but Mr Sowerby is determined to complete his qualification.

 

“I have found studying again after such a long period challenging, as I completed my BSc through Waikato University over 20 years ago,” he said.

 

“I’m hopeful after I graduate that I’ll be able to get a role as a teacher in a childcare centre here in my hometown of Gisborne.”

 

“Contributing in a positive way to a child’s development has become a core professional value and a joyful part of my personal life, particularly after the birth of my son two years ago.”

 

To access the original coverage of this story please see here.