The Feminization of Preschool Education Departments: Sociodemographic Profile, Social Background, and Gender Dimensions of a “Female” Career Choice

Lela Gogou^1*, Theodoros Thanos², Symeon Nikolidakis³

^1,3Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
²Department of Preschool Education at the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
*Corresponding author: lgogou@uniwa.gr

Appendix A · Graphs

Graph 4. Upper secondary graduation grade

Graph 5. Attendance at a tutoring center after school (N=192)

Graph 6. Participation in household chores during school age

Graph 7. Tutoring centers operating via distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, by parental educational level

Graph 8. Private foreign-language lessons during school years, by father’s educational level

Graph 9. Family attendance at theatre or concerts during school years, by father’s educational level

Appendix B · Statistical Tables (Pearson’s Chi-Square Tests of Independence)

The following tables present Pearson’s chi-square tests of independence between parents’ educational level and selected cultural, educational, and school-related practices. Parental education was recoded into three categories:

Low — lower secondary / primary / no diploma
Medium — upper secondary / private school
High — university degree / postgraduate / doctorate

Table B1. Father’s educational level and cultural/school activities (column percentages)
Variable	Category	Low (%)	Medium (%)	High (%)	χ²(df)	p
Cinema (with family)	Many times/month	16.3	18.0	13.6	4.06 (4)	.398
	Less frequently	46.9	52.8	65.9
	Never	36.7	29.2	20.5
Theatre/concert (with family)	Many times/month	6.4	9.1	18.6	13.18 (4)	.010*
	Less frequently	36.2	35.2	55.8
	Never	57.4	55.7	25.6
Museums (with family)	Many times/month	4.3	7.0	7.0	1.99 (4)	.738
	Less frequently	40.4	50.0	46.5
	Never	55.3	43.0	46.5
Art exhibitions	Many times/month	2.2	1.2	4.8	2.92 (4)	.571
	Less frequently	13.0	21.2	16.7
	Never	84.8	77.6	78.6
Library	Many times/month	6.4	4.7	7.0	0.93 (4)	.921
	Less frequently	25.5	30.6	32.6
	Never	68.1	64.7	60.5
TV / video games	Many times/month	62.0	58.4	55.6	1.57 (4)	.814
	Less frequently	34.0	33.7	40.0
	Never	4.0	7.9	4.4
Artistic activity	Many times/month	42.0	33.7	39.5	1.34 (4)	.855
	Less frequently	24.0	31.5	27.9
	Never	34.0	34.8	32.6
Religious activity	Many times/month	14.6	11.5	6.8	2.94 (4)	.568
	Less frequently	25.0	31.0	22.7
	Never	60.4	57.5	70.5
Reading books	Many times/month	26.0	23.3	28.3	1.79 (4)	.774
	Less frequently	54.0	61.1	50.0
	Never	20.0	15.6	21.7
Sports activity	Many times/month	44.0	71.9	62.2	10.64 (4)	.031*
	Less frequently	38.0	19.1	24.4
	Never	18.0	9.0	13.3

Table B2. Mother’s educational level and cultural/school activities (column percentages)
Variable	Category	Low (%)	Medium (%)	High (%)	χ²(df)	p
Cinema (with family)	Many times/month	7.4	20.6	13.8	5.60 (4)	.231
	Less frequently	48.1	53.6	58.6
	Never	44.4	25.8	27.6
Theatre/concert (with family)	Many times/month	0.0	13.5	8.8	7.09 (4)	.131
	Less frequently	32.0	39.6	47.4
	Never	68.0	46.9	43.9
Museums (with family)	Many times/month	8.0	5.4	6.9	4.45 (4)	.348
	Less frequently	28.0	48.4	51.7
	Never	64.0	46.2	41.4
Art exhibitions	Many times/month	0.0	2.2	3.5	4.83 (4)	.305
	Less frequently	8.0	22.8	14.0
	Never	92.0	75.0	82.5
Library	Many times/month	12.0	3.3	6.9	7.03 (4)	.134
	Less frequently	16.0	28.3	37.9
	Never	72.0	68.5	55.2
TV / video games	Many times/month	53.6	58.2	60.3	3.70 (4)	.448
	Less frequently	46.4	33.7	34.5
	Never	0.0	8.2	5.2
Artistic activity	Many times/month	32.1	39.2	36.8	1.42 (4)	.841
	Less frequently	25.0	29.9	28.1
	Never	42.9	30.9	35.1
Religious activity	Many times/month	21.4	7.4	10.7	5.37 (4)	.251
	Less frequently	28.6	29.5	23.2
	Never	50.0	63.2	66.1
Reading books	Many times/month	21.4	22.4	30.0	3.44 (4)	.487
	Less frequently	57.1	61.2	46.7
	Never	21.4	16.3	23.3
Sports activity	Many times/month	46.4	62.2	69.0	4.74 (4)	.315
	Less frequently	32.1	25.5	22.4
	Never	21.4	12.2	8.6

Table B3. Father’s educational level and foreign language learning / tutoring (column percentages)
Variable	Category	Low (%)	Medium (%)	High (%)	χ²(df)	p
English at school	Yes	100.0	98.9	100.0	1.06 (2)	.588
French at school	Yes	58.0	57.1	65.2	0.88 (2)	.645
German at school	Yes	44.0	41.8	37.0	0.52 (2)	.773
Italian at school	Yes	2.0	0.0	6.5	6.22 (2)	.045*
Foreign-language tutoring center	Yes	93.9	93.3	91.1	0.31 (2)	.858
Private foreign-language lessons	Yes	32.7	40.0	60.9	8.45 (2)	.015*
French outside school	Yes	6.0	14.4	19.6	3.94 (2)	.139
German outside school	Yes	6.0	10.0	21.7	6.25 (2)	.044*
Tutoring center (general subjects)	Yes	78.0	83.5	91.3	3.17 (2)	.205
Online tutoring during pandemic	Yes	88.4	98.8	97.6	7.98 (2)	.018*
Satisfaction with online tutoring	Yes	43.2	47.4	55.0	1.12 (2)	.570
Preference for private over tutoring center	Yes	53.2	40.0	45.7	2.19 (2)	.334
Combined private + group tutoring	Yes	52.1	50.0	54.3	0.24 (2)	.889

Table B4. Mother’s educational level and foreign language learning / tutoring (column percentages)
Variable	Category	Low (%)	Medium (%)	High (%)	χ²(df)	p
English at school	Yes	100.0	99.0	100.0	0.89 (2)	.640
French at school	Yes	75.0	58.6	50.0	4.92 (2)	.086
German at school	Yes	35.7	38.4	50.0	2.56 (2)	.278
Spanish at school	Yes	7.1	1.0	0.0	6.64 (2)	.036*
Italian at school	Yes	0.0	1.0	5.0	3.56 (2)	.169
Foreign-language tutoring center	Yes	89.3	95.8	90.0	2.52 (2)	.284
Private foreign-language lessons	Yes	32.1	42.3	51.7	3.15 (2)	.207
French outside school	Yes	7.1	15.2	13.6	1.20 (2)	.548
German outside school	Yes	0.0	9.1	25.4	13.66 (2)	.001*
Tutoring center (general subjects)	Yes	67.9	85.9	88.3	6.51 (2)	.039*
Online tutoring during pandemic	Yes	87.0	98.9	92.5	6.95 (2)	.031*
Satisfaction with online tutoring	Yes	40.0	50.6	49.0	0.73 (2)	.695
Preference for private over tutoring center	Yes	48.0	40.4	49.2	1.31 (2)	.519
Combined private + group tutoring	Yes	46.2	53.5	52.5	0.45 (2)	.797