What will I be when I grow up? The impact of gender identity threat on adolescents' occupational preferences
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Abstract
The present study examined the impact of gender identity threat on adolescents' occupational preferences. Two hundred and ninety-seven adolescents (45% girls, M age = 14.4, SD = .54) participated in the experiment. There were substantial differences between boys' and girls' occupational preferences. Importantly, adolescents who received a threat to their gender identity became more stereotypical in job preferences, suggesting a causal link between threatened gender identity and stereotypical preferences. A comparison threat to one's capability did not have this effect, indicating a unique effect of gender identity threat. Further, individual differences in gender identity concerns predicted gender stereotypical preferences, and this finding was replicated with an independent sample (N = 242). In conclusion, the results suggest that threats to adolescents' gender identity may contribute to the large gender segregation on the labor market.
Details
Authors | |
---|---|
Organisations | |
Research areas and keywords | Subject classification (UKÄ) – MANDATORY
Keywords
|
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 465-474 |
Journal | Journal of Adolescence |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Publication category | Research |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |