Sex differences in career self-efficacy, consideration, and interests of eighth and ninth graders.

Abstract

Fifty-seven female and 51 male eighth-and ninth-grade college-bound students were assessed to determine relations between their self-efficacy, interest, and consideration of 10 traditionally male and female occupations. Sex differences were examined. Significant relations emerged suggesting that interest plays a major role in the consideration of both traditionally male and female occupations and that interest is a function of sex differences. Analysis of individual occupations revealed significant sex differences for only a select group of occupations within each occupational cluster. Results are compared with those reported by Betz and Hackett (1981) for college students. Implication for counseling and research are presented.

Self-Efficacy and Career Choice and Development

“…(1992) examined the occupational and academic selfefficacy of a diverse sample of ninth-and tenth-grade rural students, who were very similar to the students in the Lauver & Jones (1991) study. Contrary to the Post-Kammer & Smith (1985) results, Noble et a1. found significant gender differences on occupational self-efficacy for more than half of the occupations sampled.…”

“…In the Church et al (1992) study, the patterns of gender differences were found to exist whether the analysis was conducted at an aggregate level (across male-and female-dominated occupations) or at the level of specific occupations. Post-Kammer and Smith (1985) found some gender differences in the occupational self-efficacy expectations of eighth and ninth graders. With these younger students, however, gender differences were not as pervasive as they were with college students, and vocational interests emerged as a stronger predictor of the occupations students had considered than did occupational self-efficacy.…”

“…A number of studies have included ethnically diverse samples (e.g., Bores-Rangel et al, 1990;Church et al, 1992;Post-Kammer & Smith, 1985Williams & Leonard, 1988). As a group, these investigations generally support the applicability of career self-efficacy theory to high school and college-level students of color.…”

Evaluating FOCUS‐2's Effectiveness in Enhancing First‐Year College Students’ Social Cognitive Career Development

“…These scholars' work suggested that the differences in occupational status of women and men might reflect differences in career self-efficacy. Further support for Hackett and Betz's assertions were supported in the demonstration of gender differences in career self-efficacy (Betz & Hackett, 198 1 ;Betz & Hackett, 1986;Post-Kammer & Smith, 1985), with women demonstrating higher efficacy expectations than men for traditionally female occupations and men showing greater self-efficacy toward traditionally male occupations.…”

A Holistic Model to Infer Mathematics Performance: The Interrelated Impact of Student, Family and School Context Variables

“…Girls reported a lower level of mathematics self-efficacy than did boys (Seegers, & Boekaerts, 1996). But the relationship between gender and mathematics self-efficacy is still unclear (Post-Kammer & Smith, 1985;Skaalvik & Rankin, 1994). Self-efficacy mediates the effect of gender and prior experience on math problem-solving performance (Pajares & Graham, 1999).…”