As part of efforts to become more interdisciplinary, socially embedded, and innovative, leaders of a large college of education reimagined a program originally designed to retain struggling students to target students interested in nontraditional educational careers (e.g., nonprofits). Researchers in this study explore reasons why this program has…

Context: The persistent low female participation in male-dominated trades and VET courses is not attracting a high level of public attention and policy action. There are determined, albeit ad hoc actions by advocates to raise awareness of the economic and social benefits that can result from increased female participation in the male-dominated…

Despite the fact that approximately half of high school physics students are female, only 21% of physics bachelor's degrees are awarded to women. In a previous study, drawn from a national survey of college students in introductory English courses, five factors commonly proposed to positively impact female students' choice of a physical science…

The study examines the career decision-making of Swiss academic high school students opting for a career in a non-traditional, gender-typed area of work during the transition to higher education. Based on a longitudinal study, a qualitative study with 11 female students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and 13 male student…

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 has significant implications for gender equity in career and technical education (CTE) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs--and the relatively low number of women and girls pursuing nontraditional careers has significant economic and social implications. From an…

This study examined career-related barriers that gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) individuals had encountered in the past and anticipated in the future and the degree of hindrance associated with future barriers. Two hundred forty-one GLB participants (126 women and 115 men) completed the Career Barriers Inventory-Revised and 11 additional items…

A feminist content analysis of 81 films was conducted as a means to assist mental health practitioners in guiding the career choices of young women and to explore the possibilities for change through this medium. The review of the 117 lead female characters revealed themes including: the idea that relationships should be secondary to careers in…

Men are choosing to enter nontraditional careers with greater frequency. In this article, the authors examine nontraditional career choices made by men and review current empirical literature relevant to this topic. Gottfredson's (1981, 1996) theory of circumscription and compromise and Holland's (1997) career choice theory are used as frameworks…

The purpose of this article is to review the literature related to men who pursue nontraditional career choices such as gender atypical occupations outside the home or being stay-at-home fathers. Key foundational findings and current studies that provide information about what factors influence men's pursuit of nontraditional careers both in the…

This study explores, within the framework of the literature on men in nontraditional occupations, why men choose to enter the gendered career field of family and consumer sciences (FCS) education and their experiences as FCS teachers. A better understanding of this contemporary phenomenon may facilitate men filling the national shortage of FCS…

The literature suggests that individuals, while agreeing that nontraditional occupations are appropriate for others, do not see them as appropriate for themselves. (JOW)

Effects of a brief videotape promoting nontraditional career choices were examined among eighth- and eleventh-grade rural and urban students. Posttreatment realistic, investigative, and social interests of the treatment group were compared with a control group who had not viewed the videotape. Treatment group boys expressed significantly higher…

Addresses reasons why men would not want to enter female-concentrated occupations, discrimination and men in nontraditional professions, and reasons why men would want to enter female-concentrated occupations. (Author/ABB)

Assessed personality and background features of men in female-dominated professions by comparing 54 men employed in atypical professions with 63 men employed in sex-typical fields. Results showed that the men, by virtue of having entered female-dominated professions, have common personality and background factors which differentiate them from…

Proposes that an Expectancy-Valence model of motivation provides a promising framework for motivating women to consider a wider variety of career options. Explains expectancy theory and discusses how the model can be used to understand women's inclinations toward nontraditional options. (JOW)