Occupational Interest and Perceived Personal Success: Effects of Gender, Sex-Role Orientation, and the Sexual Composition of the Occupation

Abstract

Ratings of interest and perceived personal success in the masculine stereotyped occupation of lawyer were obtained from 112 male and 112 female college students in a 2 (sex of respondent) × 4 (percentage of females projected to be in the occupation) × 3 (sex-role orientation) design. Analyses indicated (a) the manipulation of percentage of females influenced occupational interest for male students and (b) sex-role orientation influenced interest for males and perceived personal success for both male and female students. The results were discussed in reference to the stage of career planning of the students.