Socioeconomic Status

Two studies were conducted to/determine how nontraditional men and women of at least college education differed from same sex comparison groups more traditionally employed. Inferences were drawn from the studies about possible intervention strategies to encourage adolescents to enter nontraditional fields. It was found that for both nontraditional men and.w,oment the deviaut career choice appeared to be but one manifestation Of their low adherence to conventional stereotypic sex roles. In contrast to their same,sex comparison groups, the nontraditional men and women described themselves as6less sex-typed both "on the job " and in social situations. The, nontraditibnal persons also had less. stereotyped marital and family roles. The nontraditional-women were More career oriented mile the Nontraditional men were leis so., Background factors that foster broader sex roles were more frequent in the two nontraditional groups. Nontraditional women were ofted classified as tough-minded, and they had had support from male parents and teachers. Intervention to encourage adolescent girls to choose nontraditional careers should focus on making them more tough-skinned and fostering support by male peers and role models.;Nontraditional men were more often of lower socioeconomic status or members of minority groups. It was felt that stressing the prestige 7/ and upwar mobility of professional work, even in that usually chosen by women, to underprivileged groups would encourage them to choose nontraditIonal fields more often. It would also be helpful to expose male students to sensitivity and the values. of the affective domain