Student´s Perception on Career Labeled for Men and Women and their Professional Preference

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the student´s perception on career labeled for men and women and identify their professional choice. The label is understood as an absolute truth that there are appropriate careers for each sex. The study is based on the contextual theory focuses in the sociological and psychological process in vocational decisions. A questionnaire survey was applied to 838 secondary school students who attended a Vocational Guidance Fair organized by the university in order to provide information about professional careers. The age ranging from 14 to 17, woman (53.8%) and men (46.2%), in the third, fourth and fifth grade studying in public and private educational institutions. The results suggest that male students perceive that men should study engineering whereas women perceive that both can choose biomedical careers. Most men choose careers labeled for men and most women careers labeled for women. Implications for future research are considered in the study.