The lived experiences of early educators in Singapore's preschools

• Main Author: Yeow, Christy Xinyin
• Other Authors: Tan Joo Ean
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/69990
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The preschool sector in Singapore is playing an increasingly crucial role responsible for nurturing the next generation. Despite the Government’s continual efforts to retain those who have suitable qualifications, the sector still faces high turnover rates, low pay and poor status perception. The purpose of this study is to highlight the lived experiences of early educators in Singapore’s preschools and ascertain the factors, which led to their less desirable working conditions. Using the intersection of Hochschild’s Emotional Labour and Cornell’s Hegemonic Masculinity, this study illuminates how lived experiences of early educators at the micro-level are intertwined with the macro-level structures of work and gender. Qualitative data obtained through in-depth interviews with early educators was analysed and found 1) how emotional labour should be legitimately recognised as real work and 2) how work and gender relations/inequalities are mutually reinforcing. It also suggests how educational institutions that provide teacher training and the media play a role in improving the lives of early educators and other emotional labourers.