Effects of instrumentality and expressiveness on women's preferences for multiple life-career roles

Based on Super's (1990) developmental model of career development and Spence and Helmreich's (1978) gender identity theory, this study examined the relationship between the gender-related traits of instrumentality and expressiveness and women's preferences for multiple life-career roles. Super (1990) suggested that a career, as represented by the major life roles of student, worker, citizen, homemaker, and leisurite, is influenced by sex role stereotyping and individual differences. It was hypothesized in this project that gender role orientation (levels of instrumentality and expressiveness) would have an effect on women's role preferences.Adult women (N = 100) from three medium-sized midwestern communities were recruited from churches and community sororities. The women ranged in age from 20 to 82, with a mean age of 44.8 years. A response rate of 53%% was obtained. Role preferences, as expressed by women's participation, commitment, and value expectations, were measured by Nevill and Super's (1986) Salience Inventory (SI). Gender role orientation was assessed by Spence and Helmreich's (1974) Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ). Scores on the PAQ were grouped into the categories ofandrogynous, instrumental, expressiveness, and undifferentiated by the median split technique. A demographic questionnaire was also administered.The demographic variables were grouped conceptually into five categories: personal, occupational, role satisfaction, parental influence, and spousal support for the purpose of preliminary analyses. Results of these analyses (Pearson Productmoment correlations, canonical correlations, and discriminant function analyses) revealed that personal and role satisfaction variables may moderate women's gender role orientation and role preferences. The main analyses were then conducted with three separate between-subjects MANOVAs. Although the results of the MANOVAs involving women's participation and commitment to multiple life-career roles were nonsignificant, another MANOVA involving women's value expectations was significant. Post-hoc procedures indicated that androgynous women had greater expectations of achieving their values in their work role than did instrumental women. It was also found that androgynous women had higher value expectations in the community and home roles than did undifferentiated women.A number of theoretical, empirical, and counseling implications were discussed. Limitations of the study were discussed in terms of the sample characteristics and the statistics employed.Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance ServicesThesis (Ph. D.