Highlights three programs developed by Pennsylvania vocational educators that encourage nontraditional enrollments and meet the special needs of teen parents, adult single parents, and displaced homemakers. (JOW)

Focuses on female employment preferences and summarizes results of a questionnaire distributed to a sample of rural males and females. Although gender differences in employment preferences do exist, many rural women indicate an interest in traditionally male, blue-collar jobs. Women who held such jobs commented positively about their experiences.…

Investigated students' information about gender traditional and nontraditional occupations and the relationship of students' stereotyping of occupations to predicted and actual knowledge. There was little relationship between actual and predicted scores for either sex. However, men's errors did not relate to occupational type, while women…

Results indicate that it is the combined influence of self-perceptions of several career-relevant abilities that differentiates the nontraditional math and science career aspirants from more traditional math/science and nonmath career aspiration group members. Implications for professionals working with the mathematically talented female…

To investigate the effect upon achievement of women who work in male-dominated professions and thus may feel tokenism, a study examined career outcomes of women who received medical training. Results indicated that women physicians were overrepresented as teachers, and the most powerful position, administrator, was primarily occupied by men. (KH)

Compares aspects of the work and private lives of 43 French and 20 Canadian managerial women with careers in essentially male occupations. Issues of socialization, coordination of work and family life, sponsorship in the workplace, sex ratios and division of labor, and equal opportunities are examined. (SK)

Describes a study that identified factors that nontraditional and traditional completers of vocational education programs perceived as barriers in obtaining their vocational goals. Concludes that many school-related problems remain, and makes recommendations for further research. (NRJ)

Four diverse groups of women (members of the university women's caucus, a sample of undergraduates, a group of secretarial and clerical women, and a nonworking group) agreed on the prestige accorded to different occupations. The same groups showed clear differences when asked whether the occupations were appropriate for women. (Author/EAK)

Discusses three major reasons why more women do not pursue research positions in science and technology: (1) lack of awareness of female role models; (2) social rejection in graduate schools and sexual pressures on the job; and (3) lack of technological literacy. Makes recommendations to solve these problems. (JOW)

The Realistic scale of the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) and the Realistic and Social scales of the Self Directed Search successfully differentiated the occupational groups. However, the VPI Social and Enterprising scales did not differentiate between men and women in the same occupation. (Author)

Encouragements and discouragements for achievement-related behavior were reported. Career women reported significantly more encouragement from teachers, family members (except parents), and significant others of the opposite sex. Career men reported more encouragement from parents; however, these differences were not significant. (Author)

A woman deputy state director of vocational education discusses what it takes to be an effective administrator and what it means to be a female in a predominantly male field. (JOW)

Studies of gender identity and activity preferences in young children and of the characteristics of work culture in traditional male trades are used to support the argument that women seeking nontraditional employment are faced with a work identity based on a traditional concept of masculinity. Reconstructing work cultures to ensure equal access…

The overrepresentation of Black females in traditional occupations stems from the emotions, beliefs, and environmental factors affecting their decision making. Conflicts between sex role socialization and that of Black subculture, as well as discrimination in hiring, are contributing factors. (SK)

Provides practical suggestions for employment counselors concerned with the advancement of women in nontraditional career fields. Focuses on employment counselor's role in promoting sex equity and nontraditional careers for women. (Author/NB)