Would prefer a male or female babysitter to watch over your children?

Question

and would it make a difference what the s*x of your child is when deciding? (if both are equally capable)

Also if you have a babysitter already- Male or female?

Don't get all stupid, I'm just curious as to how people think and if sexist notions are ok when it comes to protecting the most important people in their lives. Their babies.

Basically, would you trust a man or a woman more to watch your little girl or boy?

Answer 1

I would only hire a female babysitter. I don't mean to be sexist, but there are so many sick male pedophiles in the world, that I wouldn't trust a man with my child. I don't think all men are like that, but I wouldn't want to risk my child being abused.

Answer 2

I'd have to know more about them than just that.

Answer 3

little girl: a female. Look, two of my friends were raped when they were younger by men who baby sat them and took advantage of them. I'm not a sexist and I trust guys, but I just wouldn't want my baby to get hurt like that, so better sexist and safe then finding out my little girl was abused.

little boy: doesn't matter

Answer 4

If I had kids, I'd want someone with sufficient maturity, who liked kids, but could also lay down the law when necessary.

Their s*x is irrelevant.

Sexist notions are never ok -- your question has NOTHING to do with protecting babies or children, as it's not true that all members of either s*x are dangerous.

Answer 5

It would depend upon the person.

Answer 6

Family only in my case - male or female, it doesn't matter, but I prefer close family members to watch any children I may have.

Answer 7

That's truly an ultimate and most harmful-to-society sexism, any notion whatsoever of one gender or another that is inferior or superior of conscience than the other in matters of protecting, nurturing and not "preying" upon our species and our neighbor's own children.  Utterly sexist.  It's that notion that all men are potential raptists.  Think about what kind of message that gives to our children when we "protect" them from Men like that as though Men are the bogeyman.  

Always, parents should screen all babysitters by hiring them to be with the family caring for and interacting with the children while parents are there constantly in the household.  Several times, hire the boy or girl to join on family outings.  That is the best way to get to know a babysitter before feeling confident about leaving chldren in their care alone.  

Answer 8

Well, I don't plan on having children, but if I were to change my mind in the future I would only hire a female baby sitter.  It's not because females have maternal instincts, because seriously, trying to say that is just plain sexist.  However, as sexist as this sounds, you cannot trust men, sadly not even members of the family.  As someone else said, it's better to be sexist and safe than find out your child has been raped.  You are gambling with your child's safety if you hire a male sitter on the basis of not wanting to be sexist.  It doesn't matter the s*x of the child, men rape both girls and boys.

However, as odd as this sounds, I would hire a g*y male sitter, even if he was sitting for a boy.  I trust g*y men, far more than I trust straight men, even when it comes to the safety of a male child.  I think that g*y men are far less likely than straight men to rape children.

Answer 9

Gender doesn't matter to me but I would feel safer if it was a female babysitter.

Answer 10

I personally would prefer a woman; but it does depend on the person as some men are just as trustworthy and good with kids as women.  

Answer 11

females only! I have a daughter and i just do not trust men now a days!  

Answer 12

women.  

Answer 13

That's a great question, and my personal preference would be a female but I'm not even sure why (at a conscious level).  I suppose I just tend to associate a female with more maternal instincts, but it's really not something I can even defend, via logic.  I just don't want a guy watching my child, it's sort of strange for me I suppose.

Answer 14

Female, sometimes temptation gets the most of many men.

Answer 15

There has been a fashion in the UK to have a male childminder for male children. This makes sense especially if there is no father or male role model in the household.

"Don't get all stupid.."

Duh... uh... what was the question again?

Answer 16

I think women are just better at it, I babysat for this woman once (for FREE as she had no money and had been asked out on a date) but anyway the movie "The Blob" was on TV so we watched that. Lets just say I have never been asked to do it again, I'm sure the kids enjoyed the movie though, being scarred is the whole point of a horror film.

Answer 17

I would prefer a female babysitter, all else being equal (which it never is). Doesn't matter what s*x my child is.

The reason is that, by and large, females tend to have a stronger parental and nurturing instinct then males. But most parents I know don't tend to have much of an option, as there aren't many male babysitters to choose from (of course, this could very well be a consequence of many parents refusing to hire an otherwise qualified male babysitter).

I asked a similar question awhile ago in the "Parenting" section (as well as this one), and most agreed that babysitting and caregiving is an area where gender discrimination and sexism are absolutely acceptable.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 18

Gender doesn't matter. Whoever is most capable of watching them would be the one I'd trust.  

Answer 19

women here say that they only trust women but the truth is that non are better than the other,I have seen cases where men rape kids but I also seen cases where women beat the h**l out of the babies.

you women may not admit that women can beat the child but I have seen it.

I used to have female babysitters who would just beat me just for the fun of it.