Parental Bias When Hiring a Nanny

Parental Bias When Hiring a Nanny

As Dara Green has been in this industry for over 30 years, she has been witness to many scenarios and have listened to many parents’ preferences when regarding hiring a nanny.  From an agency perspective we have to follow the parents’ wishes in their descriptions of what type of nanny they are looking for. However, parents generate a multitude of biased perspectives during this process.

When Ms. Green was teaching preschool she had the very high honor of working with one of the most beloved and professional preschool teachers that she had ever met.  In fact, the teacher was so highly sought after by parents, that the school had to create a wait list just for children to be able to get into her 2 year-old classroom!

 That being said, now as a professional in the field and placing nannies in private homes for over 11 years, Ms. Green knows when she sees a good nanny and when she doesn't. She says," We do not discriminate as a placement agency as it is clearly not how this company operates. We truly do not see age, race, color, size or gender. We feel either you “have it” with kids, or you don’t!"  

As a company, when parents come to us in search of the perfect nanny, we must call into question their definition of “perfect”. We can ask our clients to leave their views at the door and to step in with an open mind, but when it comes down to it, it is nearly impossible to rid our minds of predispositions.  

In today’s world of self-empowerment and breaking down barriers, it may seem hard to believe that bias can still be seen as a common theme. To clarify, a bias is defined as a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned. Bias can be reflected in a variety of ways such as in our culture, society, and of course our personal views.

So, where did these predisposed ideas of what a nanny should be come from? To unveil the true reasoning behind this parental bias, we must first look to the culture and society that surrounds us. Here in sunny San Diego, California we are at one of the major epicenters of modern culture. By simply stepping out into the streets of the county, it is clear to see that people of this area are upheld to higher standards. Whether it may be from the type of fashions, technology, or to the way people interact, everything is done in the latest and greatest way. But, if everything is so modern, then why are parents in this society not keeping an open mind while searching for a nanny?

Maybe this parental bias is rooted within the time frame and ways the child's parents and their parents were raised.  In previous generations, it is common knowledge that gender roles in society were different than today. Traditionally, the women and men were apart of this “separate spheres” ideology. While the men worked and participated in the business world, the women would raise children and take care of the household. In modern life, the idea of working women, and women taking the role as breadwinners, clashes with this traditional idea. The pattern seems consistent with the traditional view, that families desire women nannies to be at home with their children when mom and dad are both at work.  In addition, men taking positions as nannies and teachers goes against the traditional view.

Another question for parents, why isn’t there a larger demand for male nannies? Well, men are believed to have a different style of parenting and working with children. It is seen that they promote risk-taking and independence. Often times, fathers are given little to no credit for their children’s upbringing. This correlates with our society and culture’s views, like men and women's roles in society. If women can be successful in the business world, couldn’t men be successful in the childcare world too?

Also, could it be possible that parents hold a bias against an overweight nanny?

Believe it or not, we have experienced cases like this, so yes indeed it is true. A concern that runs through parents’ minds is could an overweight nanny be able to keep up with the hustle and bustle of my two-year-old child? This may seem like a silly question, but it is an actually common concern.

Commonly, parents hold a bias about the age of the nanny that they are searching for. A 21 year old may be young, fun, and may easily relate with the kids, but do they have enough life experience to look after my children? Or, at the other end of the spectrum, would a 65 year old be able to keep up? The great part about going through a trusted nanny agency is that it really takes this concern out of the question. By meeting with nannies that have gone through multiple interviews, responsibility and ability have already been evaluated and approved.

Overall, avoiding parental bias when hiring a nanny may just be next to impossible. Although our modern society and culture in San Diego push against males, the overweight, and the young being involved in childcare, we can try to take into account the root of the ideas and use those as a base to evolve into an open viewpoint while involved in the nanny search.

~Sara Luckham
Social Media Specialist
Seaside Staffing Company