Gender Typicality and Prestige of Occupational Aspirations in Adolescents: The Relevance of Agency and Communion
Open Access
- 17 May 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Career Development
- Vol. 50 (2), 405-424
- https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453221100744
Abstract
Occupational gender segregation is still a persistent problem in the labor market. This study investigates gender differences in gender typicality and prestige of occupational aspirations in early adolescence, as well as the role of agency and communion in these differences. In total, 2779 adolescents (age 11-15) reported their occupational aspirations, later coded for gender typicality and prestige. Participants also described themselves spontaneously with three attributes, then coded in terms of agency and communion. The results showed significant gender differences in a stereotypical direction for 40% of the occupations named, with boys expressing a clear preference for male-dominated and girls for female-dominated occupations. Conversely, the results revealed higher aspirations among girls regarding occupational prestige. Communion was found to be a significant mediator between gender and aspirations to typically feminine occupations, while agency mediated the relationship between gender and the prestige of aspirations. The findings' implications for theory and practice are discussed.Keywords
Funding Information
- Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth
- Bundesministerin für Frauen, Familien und Jugend
- Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie
- Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung
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