How the feminist society we live in makes men live in fear.

I'm male. I am a trained and 18 year experienced teacher. I teach in primary school (elementary) and I am the only male teacher in the primary school. I am considering leaving teaching because I no longer feel that it is a safe working environment for a male.

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A quick background about who I am. I need to mention this because it is our current cultural climate is very polarized. I'm proud to say that I come from a nuclear free South Pacific country. I currently live in Germany and see myself as European. I'm a well traveled teacher of young kids, so like most Europeans like me, we are liberal. In other words, to Americans away from the coastal cities, I'm pretty much a fake capitalist who is really a communist.

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I choose to teach young children because I find it the most rewarding job. It isn't like I can't do other jobs. I love (addicted some say) to learning. So, I also have degrees in Geography, Computer Science (programming), 3d movie animation, padi divemaster and on top of that I am a lead designer of fully autonomous drones for a engineering company here in Germany. Most of these skills I can use to make a lot more money than the low pay you get in primary teaching. But I am who I am. My personally suits working with small children. I am the male teacher that children love. I'm often known as my favourite teacher. In class they say I am strict but yell the least off all the teachers (told that today from my head teacher who interviewed the children). I'm a bit loony, okay loony actor is my style. I teach through positive reinforcement. Ex-students on facebook as teenagers or young adults always request me as friend and often thank me personally. I'm good at this job and each time my teaching has been officially observed, I have only received excellence (okay once I did get a good). I know males are needed in primary school and it is my civic duty to help the next generations grow into well rounded people.

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But I am afraid. I'm afraid that one allegation against my character will ruin my life. I am aware of this. I have taken training for male teachers on how to keep yourself safe. I am never in a room alone with a child. I will leave the room if the child won't leave. I never walk alone just with one child. I always make sure I do as much as I can to keep myself safe. I am making sure the children no longer can hug me, even though it is what they need and at the same time, a tool teachers use to build a personal rapport with the child. I try and fail still, to leave the emotional parts to the female teachers.

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Over the years I have watch how things have changed. Parents no longer trust teachers as they did only ten years ago (it's got worse). I believe the Brett Kavanaugh hearing in the last 10 days has been my final tipping point. (quick note here, remember I'm Liberal European so Kavanaugh judiciary practice goes against my core personal beliefs). Here is a man who has worked in public office for over 20 years, is a leader of hiring women in the courts, has documented proof in the forms of in a calendar/diary in who he met and what he did, can get 65 women from his high school days to vouch for him within one day, has written testimony from all those involved saying they have never met (to go along with the calendar), female friend choosing him to discuss their own sexually harassment and along with a lot more facts that can be proven. Yet, in spite of having a clean history with support, he has been accused of being guilty by the media, celebrities, and political leaders all before hearing his side of the story. What's worse, and the thing that is breaking the camels back, is that the ordinary people who share my core beliefs, were the strongest in condemning him and believing her before anything had been said on both sides. Now after the testimony where the facts were heard it is still seen as credible that he did something. She provided no extra facts about that night apart from emotion. Yet when I read most of the media, I see that they still support her.

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This scares me. It scares me so much that I want to leave teaching. I'm not Brett Kavanaugh. I don't have records of my daily activities. I'd struggle to find 5 women from school to sign a letter saying the nice guy I was in high school (I was the geek loony guy ... girls liked the strong sports type more). hell, I've got drunk and past out a few times and yes, I've kissed a lot of girls. I've seen how parents are, I have noticed how the people I am around the most firmly believe her over him even when he presents facts to back up his claim. Is it really worth it? One claim and no matter how I have acted, what proof I have, I have seen from this hearing and many more in the past few years that my life and that of my family will be ruined.

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Today is the start of autumn holidays. I love being a teacher but I am thinking of handing my notice in. Help me change my mind.

edit - please mention if you are male or female. I am hoping it helps me see each gender perspective.

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edit 2: thank you all for your comments. I have enjoyed the discussion and it has given me many things to sleep over. I will be back later to comment more but I am a father and being on reddit all day (just as the holidays start) I need to do other things ...yes I have a wife and she is giving me chores.