Toward an Understanding of Career Development among G/T Female Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to test predictions derived from two different theoretical perspectives in order to achieve a better understanding of changes in career aspirations among gifted and talented young women. The sample consisted of 247 G/T young women who completed the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) and the Self Directed Search (SDS) in both their sophomore and junior years of high school. The results indicated that, while gender identity does appear to play a central role, adolescents' occupational interests, competencies and preferences do change and undergo refinement as a function of emerging instrumental and expressive self perceptions. Implications for counseling G/T young women are discussed.