Is the female of the species less ambitious than the male?

Abstract

Reports the results of a research project (‘Career attitudes of females in the library and information profession, MA dissertation’), undertaken at the Department of Information and Library Studies, Loughborough University, UK, into the attitudes of women library and information professionals towards their careers. The study approached the issue by analysing the attitudes of library and information students to examine whether there is a difference in the career attitudes and aspirations between men and women. The questionnaire survey was split into three sections: background information; qualifications; and future career plans. Concludes that there is little difference between male and female attitudes toward their careers in terms of ambition, aspiration and commitment. In themselves, women’s career attitudes are not a barrier to their progression into senior library management, but social and organizational factors, particularly attitudes towards families, partners, parents, children, friends and wider social commitments, have a greater negative effect on female career attitudes than those of males. For women to become truly equal in the workplace, changes to organizational structures, which place emphasis on long and rigid working hours and overtime, need to take place and options such as career breaks, part time work and flexible working hours must be given more professional credibility by senior management.