The effect of gender stereotyping on the career adjustment of women

Investigation explored gender role stereotypes and the effect of stereotyping on the career adjustment of women. Occupational gender type ratings obtained from employed women were similar, although less extreme, than those observed in earlier studies (Shinar, 1975; White, Kruczek, Brown, White, 1989). Traditionally employed women provided more extremely stereotyped ratings than did their nontraditionally employed counterparts. All women were administered the Personality Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) to assess the level of instrumental and expressive characteristics representative of their behavior. All women displayed a higher level of instrumental behaviors at work compared to home. Further, all women reported the level of instrumental behaviors they displayed at work surpassed the level that was characteristic of their overall personality orientation. Differences in gender role behaviors between traditionally and nontraditionally employed women were present across conditions: home, work, overall personality orientation. These two, groups differed with regard to the level of gender role behaviors they perceived as necessary for successful job performance. Job satisfaction (as measured by the Job Descriptive Index and Hoppock Satisfaction Questionnaire) was used as an index of career adjustment. Women employed nontraditionally expressed greater levels of dissastisfaction with their work, supervisors, and coworkers.Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance ServicesThesis (Ph. D.