Interviews with 10 women employed in trades revealed four significant factors in the choice of nontraditional occupations: perceived innate ability, strong sense of self, desire for independence, and role models, especially family. Formal career education/counseling was not a factor. Contrary to previous studies, only 3 of the 10 were firstborn or…

Describes the choices, barriers, and experiences of women employed in and seeking employment in nontraditional occupations, based on a survey of 75 women. Results indicated the women held strong views of sex role equality, and named money and benefits as the most common reason for pursuing nontraditional careers. (JAC)

Compared congruency between types of noncollege-degreed employed women's (N=171) actual occupational choices and their cognitive occupational preferences to congruency between types of personality and choices. Results indicated that, although association between types of cognitive occupational preference and actual occupational choice was superior…

Compared 64 women in atypical professions with 71 women in sex-typical professions. Results suggested those in atypical professions were more likely to be firstborn, with employed mothers, and to mention positive influences of men on their careers. Factors related to atypical choice may relate to academic achievement. (JAC)

Interviewed 50 women who chose a male-dominated career, the ministry, about career choice and professional development including role models and educational experiences. Findings indicated a complex interaction of sex and function of role models with age and sex-role orientation of subjects. (JAC)

Investigates childhood and adolescent career aspirations of a sample of white, middle to upper class girls. In childhood, those aspiring to male-dominated careers were somewhat older and more tomboyish, had higher IQs and more educated parents. As adolescents they had higher educational aspirations, and were less likely to anticipate being married…

Women in nontraditional business roles were more achieving, emphasized production more, saw themselves as having characteristics more like managers, and considered the domestic role less important. The two groups did not differ in attitude toward the importance of their careers, or their perceptions of their husband's attitudes. (Author)

Literature on women in occupations where men predominate is reviewed from 1930 through 1976 and discussed with reference to women's personality and background characteristics. Data are discussed as supporting Almquist and Angrist's "enrichment hypothesis" whereby the nontraditional woman is seen as the product of unusual, positive factors. (Author)

Although all women medical students have demonstrated occupational role innovation by their career choice, their selection of the field in which they will specialize during their medical careers (secondary career choice) may or may not represent additional innovation. Women enrolled in two medical schools in 1975-76 who stated that they had made a…

Three hypotheses were derived from our basic premise that, among women, social factors are critical in the choice of a high status, nontraditional career. Women applying to nontraditional careers should have lower affilitative needs than women applying to traditional careers. As compared with women entering a traditional field, women entering a…

Reviews literature concerning women who choose nontraditional occupations. Discusses female career choice in general, and describes characteristics and traits of the nontraditionalistic woman, including personality, motivational and background traits. Discusses the effects of federal antidiscrimination legislation and current trends in women's…

Explored the relationships between network variables and level of self-valuing within a group of women who demonstrated interest in careers traditionally associated with males. The major focus was on the differential importance of male-referenced versus female-referenced variables in predicting level of self-regard within such a group. (Author/PAS)

Predictions from Polachek's theory explaining occupational sex segregation are tested and found to be false. The data do not show that women are penalized less for intermittent employment if they choose predominantly female occupations. There is no evidence that such a choice is economically rational. (Author/SK)

A study was done to examine the differences among college students' perceptions of the shift in gender domination in selected occupations. Results indicate that the particular institution attended may affect perceptions. (JN)

Presents an edited transcript of a discussion with seven Simmons College faculty members about education for women and the role a women's college can play in a period of social change. Discussion topics include Simmons as a women's college, meaningful work, non-traditional careers, counseling responsibilities, and potential students. (CAM)