UNDERSTANDING CAREER CHOICES OF MEN IN ELEMENTARY-EDUCATION

This study was a component of a program of research designed to increase understanding of the career choice of men who select nontraditional careers, such as elementary education, by comparing what they find important in their careers, their sex role identity, and personality components with men in a traditional career and with women in elementary education. Participants completed the Important Components of a Career scale, Bem's Sex Role Inventory (short form), and Cattell's 16 Personality Factor measure. The questionnaire packets were mailed to 1,000 potential respondents in five groups, with a response rate of 46%. The men in elementary education and nursing valued relationship-oriented components of their careers significantly more than did the men in engineering, F(2, 233) = 35.39, p < .01. Men differed significantly from women in elementary education in their personality profiles, Hotelling's T = .37, F(15, 135) = 3.32, p < .01, specifically with respect to tough versus tender mindedness, but were similar in other dimensions assessed by the 16 personality factors.