The purpose of the study reported in this speech was to ascertain whether perceived barriers to entering nontraditional occupations as measured by a barriers-to-entry survey could be employed to accurately discriminate among women's consideration of a nontraditional occupation. Using a stratified random sample of 500 women (51% response) living in…

The author explains that by recruiting and training females for nontraditional occupations, we can double the skilled workforce in worker-short occupations. She discusses recruitment techniques, teacher liaison with employers, workshops, support group meetings, and contacts with role models. Action needed at the federal, state, and school levels…

Identifies some of the obstacles in the nontraditional career choice and implementations process of women. Counselor bias and client attitudes are crucial factors, as are physical strength, co-worker relations, and mathematical ability. Suggests ideas for neutralizing these obstacles and maximizing the chances for success. (Author)

Uses career history data from 15 women in professional engineering careers to examine some educational concomitants of nontraditional career choices. The focus, from an interactionist theoretical perspective, is on how women actually experienced becoming an engineer. The educational influences identified are those perceived by women themselves to…

The earnings gap is the difference between the percentage ratio of women's earnings to those of men and 100 percent. In 1988, the earnings gap for hourly earnings was 26 percent; for weekly earnings, 30 percent; and for annual earnings, 34 percent. Although the direction over the past decade is toward greater equality, the pace is extremely slow.…

The relationship between work and family is an issue of growing concern in the United States. The increasing participation of women in the labor force has created new demands for services, especially for low-income families, to offset women's dual responsibilities at work and home. This paper describes a Ford Foundation program to study the place…

This publication provides information on issues surrounding the entry of women into the fire service. Chapter 1 focuses on the "Women in the Fire Service" seminar held on August 1979. It covers issues and recommendations for programs designed to facilitate the effective use of women. Other sections contain seminar participant opinions on the issue…

This paper presents an overview of occupational segregation, which keeps women in lower-paying job categories, especially as this segregation pertains to federal job programs. The first two sections of the paper survey occupational segregation in general, examining the statistics which show that women are heavily concentrated into a very limited…

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972, this article identifies similarities and differences in social background characteristics, academic ability, and work values among men and women in sex-typical and sex-atypical curricula. Results show that men and women in sex-atypical majors are more like their sex…

Although occupational sex segregation has decreased over the last 25 years, it is still a major social concern primarily because of the role it plays in perpetuating the gender wage gap. This paper uses data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a study that followed a random sample of 10,317 high school graduates, to assess the determinants of…

This publication presents six primary tools employers can use to narrow or eliminate pay gaps in their workplaces. After each tool is a discussion of the problem and examples of "best practices" by employers that have won the Department of Labor's Opportunity 2000 and EVE (Exemplary Voluntary Efforts) awards. The report is divided into six tools:…

This report on an international symposium on the strengthening of the development and improvement of vocational education begins with a description of UNEVOC, the International Project on Technical and Vocational Education. Section 2 presents discussions of the following topics: adult and continuing technical and vocational education and its…

The Women in Nontraditional Trades (WINT) project has implemented a new skills training program for women in the Philippines. It is being pilot tested in two regional training centers of the National Manpower and Youth Council in central Mindanao and southern Luzon. A major component of the WINT project is the provision of skills training for…

From its position in the Office of the Secretary of Labor, the Women's Bureau participates in departmental policy making and program planning and serves as a coordinating body in the Department of Labor for programs affecting women. Among its activities are the following: initiating and supporting research in economic, social, and legislative…

The annual Journal of the American Association of Women in Community and Junior Colleges (AAWCJC) publishes articles on research, model programs, and teaching/learning strategies of interest to women staff and students in community, junior, and technical colleges. It provides a forum for the discussion of issues related to women in higher…