Constructing Occupational Identities: How Female Preschool Teachers Develop Professionalism

Abstract

This study explores how female teachers construct their occupational identities as teachers within early childhood education (ECE) settings. The combination of feminist scholarship and the use of teacher life history method allow these women to describe themselves as professionally trained and educated teachers who love teaching and children even though they are suffering from low pay and a generalized social image that preschool teachers are just "babysitters." These seven female teachers exhibited unique concept of professionalism: passion, dedication, and commitment to ECE field.