The Relationship Between Gender, Perceived Career Barriers, and Occupational Aspirations

TitleThe Relationship Between Gender, Perceived Career Barriers, and Occupational Aspirations
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsWatts, Logan L., Frame, Mark C., Moffett, Richard G., Van Hein, Judith L., and Hein, Michael
JournalJournal of Applied Social Psychology
Volume45
Issue1
Pagination10 - 22
Date Published2015///
Keywordscareer barriers, gender, glass ceiling, occupational aspirations
Abstract

The relationships between college student gender, perceived career barriers, and occupational aspirations were examined. Participants were 314 students located in the southeastern United States. Overall, college women reported higher levels of occupational aspirations than college men. While occupational aspirations were not correlated with perceived career barriers for women or men, women reported anticipating more barriers to their career advancement than their male peers. Perceived career barriers and the interaction between gender and perceived career barriers predicted occupational aspirations after controlling for gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and year in school. The relationship between occupational aspirations and the interaction between gender and perceived career barriers in college-age adults enhances our understanding of occupational aspirations.