Gender and Career Choice:

1. 1 Gender and Career Choice: Still an Influence After all These Years Sandra McGarraugh and Ellie vonWellsheim, NYS NET Project www.albany.edu/nontraditionalcareers

2. 2 How Do They Choose a Career? Cultural messages Family Community Experiences Skills and interests Education Self-concept Personality Information and exposure What are the cultural messages Self �concept � what they think they are capable of doing Personality � what they like to do � outgoing, introvert, etc. What are the cultural messages Self �concept � what they think they are capable of doing Personality � what they like to do � outgoing, introvert, etc.

3. 3 Gender and career choice Gender role stereotypes What is female What is male Traditional family role expectations Father and �bread winner� Mother and housewife Occupational segregation Nurses, secretaries, teachers Engineers, dentists, police

4. 4 What is a nontraditional occupation (NTO)? Any occupation in which women or men comprise 25% or less of its total employment is considered nontraditional. Definition reflects representation in the labor market NYS DOL data supports the crosswalk of identified career and technical ed programs for secondary [CIP] Classification of Instructional Programs codes and HEGIS Higher Education General Information System codes. sDefinition reflects representation in the labor market NYS DOL data supports the crosswalk of identified career and technical ed programs for secondary [CIP] Classification of Instructional Programs codes and HEGIS Higher Education General Information System codes. s

5. 5 Nontraditional occupations for women Mechanical/electronic technicians 11% Drafting occupations 19% Computer scientists 4% Civil engineers 7% Precision mfg technicians 4% Automotive technicians 2% NYSDOL, NYSED Crosswalk Drafting includes architectural, mechanical and applied graphic and fine arts Carpenter apprentices 15% Auto mechanics apprentices 8% Salaries: ET�s 35,000 Drafting 32,000 Carpenters 30,000 Auto mechs 31,000 Office machine repairers 35,000 Police and detectives Patrol officers 37,710 Detectives and CSI 46,180 Supervisors 37,130 - 69,440 Drafting includes architectural, mechanical and applied graphic and fine arts Carpenter apprentices 15% Auto mechanics apprentices 8% Salaries: ET�s 35,000 Drafting 32,000 Carpenters 30,000 Auto mechs 31,000 Office machine repairers 35,000 Police and detectives Patrol officers 37,710 Detectives and CSI 46,180 Supervisors 37,130 - 69,440

6. 6 Nontraditional occupations for men Dental hygienists 3% Registered nurses 6% Health care techs 13% Elementary school teachers 16% Kindergarten teachers 8% Child care workers 4% NYSDOL,NYSED Crosswalk Dental hygienists 38,000 Registered N�s 39,000 Health record techs 22,000 Cosmetologists 17,000 Child care workers 15,000Dental hygienists 38,000 Registered N�s 39,000 Health record techs 22,000 Cosmetologists 17,000 Child care workers 15,000

7. 7 Why promote nontraditional options? Labor market trends Growth areas Shortages Information technology economy Employer demand Increased pay, benefits, opportunities Student interests and skills Increase enrollments Comply with funding requirements Labor market trends: Growth areas - technology � computer engineers [4 yr] and computer support specialists [2 yr] women nontraditional status 5% and 12% Shortages � health care 2000 study by Health Care Association of NYS, SED�s Office of the Professions � by 2004 will need 7,000 + RN�s � average age of RN�s 40+ - less than 10% under 30 � less than 6% are male � females have more options, choosing outside the traditional fields of teaching, nursing, social work, etc. Information technology economy � jobs less gendered less need for men and women in traditional roles � help of technology Employers want nontraditional workers � women engineers, etc. Increased pay, benefits, opportunities � for women, but also opportunities for men Funding � Perkins III: Perkins III Labor market trends: Growth areas - technology � computer engineers [4 yr] and computer support specialists [2 yr] women nontraditional status 5% and 12% Shortages � health care 2000 study by Health Care Association of NYS, SED�s Office of the Professions � by 2004 will need 7,000 + RN�s � average age of RN�s 40+ - less than 10% under 30 � less than 6% are male � females have more options, choosing outside the traditional fields of teaching, nursing, social work, etc. Information technology economy � jobs less gendered less need for men and women in traditional roles � help of technology Employers want nontraditional workers � women engineers, etc. Increased pay, benefits, opportunities � for women, but also opportunities for men Funding � Perkins III: Perkins III

8. 8 Computers and TechnologyNational Council for Research on Women, 2000 Women represented 37% of students earning bachelor level degrees in computer science in 1984 and less than 20% in 1999 Less than 3% of engineering and science technology majors at the community college level are women In 2000 girls made up less than 17% of the students who took the A. P. introductory level computer science exam and 11% of those who took the advanced level exam Yet in 1999 NSF reported on a survey of 13 to 17 year old boys and girls that found equal levels of both computer usage and skills

9. 9 Computer Culture Computation vs. Application Gender Stereotypes Disenchantment vs. Phobia Tool/Toy Divide Tinkering Computer science is computation; computers are the tool performing the computation Computer science is a science with problems, conjectures, explorations, tests, solutions Applications ��liking computers� � word processing, spread sheets, Internet, programs Differences in how males and females interact with computers: men gain power through manipulative capacity of technology Women see computer technology as a means to facilitate particular tasks Women are engaged with the world; men engaged with computers Men see computers as inherently interesting; women see them as a tool to �get things done� Girls and women do not �tinker� with computers as much as boys and menComputer science is computation; computers are the tool performing the computation Computer science is a science with problems, conjectures, explorations, tests, solutions Applications ��liking computers� � word processing, spread sheets, Internet, programs Differences in how males and females interact with computers: men gain power through manipulative capacity of technology Women see computer technology as a means to facilitate particular tasks Women are engaged with the world; men engaged with computers Men see computers as inherently interesting; women see them as a tool to �get things done� Girls and women do not �tinker� with computers as much as boys and men

10. 10 Computers and Programmers Betty Holberton ENIAC Ada Lovelace Grace Hopper Betty: WWII calculating trajectories and other military figures for the US Army, using adding machines and skills in math and science, were named �computers��.men lacked the patience for such tedium 1946, machine that would automate the process of producing those calculations �Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer� or ENIAC. Needed to set dials and plug in cables each time a new calculation was required � 6 women performed the setting and plugging Betty Holberton [Snyder] ��programmers� Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace, assisted Charles Babbage, an inventer, in developing the analytic engine, precursor to calculators and computers used by the British army, and development of a programming language mid-1880�s Grace Hopper career in US Navy-Rear Admiral � coined the term �computer bug� built the first A-O compiler which with the UNIVAC I computer predicted the Eisenhower win in 1952 after 7% of votes were in. Betty: WWII calculating trajectories and other military figures for the US Army, using adding machines and skills in math and science, were named �computers��.men lacked the patience for such tedium 1946, machine that would automate the process of producing those calculations �Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer� or ENIAC. Needed to set dials and plug in cables each time a new calculation was required � 6 women performed the setting and plugging Betty Holberton [Snyder] ��programmers� Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace, assisted Charles Babbage, an inventer, in developing the analytic engine, precursor to calculators and computers used by the British army, and development of a programming language mid-1880�s Grace Hopper career in US Navy-Rear Admiral � coined the term �computer bug� built the first A-O compiler which with the UNIVAC I computer predicted the Eisenhower win in 1952 after 7% of votes were in.

11. 11 Health Care Shortages**Health Care Association NYS 2000 Current 7-20% vacancy rate Need 7,000+ RN�s by 2004 Average age of RN�s 40+ 10% under 30 Less than 6% of RN�s are men Career ladders

12. 12

13. 13 Perkins III Carl D. Perkins VATEA 1998 Replaces �setaside� funded programs of Perkins II Measures �participation and completion of nontraditional training and employment programs� State performance measures apply to all funded institutions

14. 14 Critical points in education *National Council for Research on Women, 2001 Middle school transition Peer pressures Course selection/�opt out� factor High school Family and culture Career majors Freshman year of college Classroom climate Instructional strategies

15. 15 Influencers and Messages Parents and family Peers � friendship groups and cultural Teachers Counselors Community-ethnic and religious factors Mentors and role models The media Traditional roles changed but not completely �Housewife and mother� still a career choice for many young women Workplace still not �family friendly� Gender role expectations - peer pressure-homophobia - why would a young man want to work with young children for little pay � Counselors often lack technical fluency to affirmatively encourage young women in SMET careers Images of women and men in media �tv, movies, print, and advertising in both visual and print media reflect attitudes and expectations for men and women in our society, and the limitations of gender role expectations both positively and negatively Traditional roles changed but not completely �Housewife and mother� still a career choice for many young women Workplace still not �family friendly� Gender role expectations - peer pressure-homophobia - why would a young man want to work with young children for little pay � Counselors often lack technical fluency to affirmatively encourage young women in SMET careers Images of women and men in media �tv, movies, print, and advertising in both visual and print media reflect attitudes and expectations for men and women in our society, and the limitations of gender role expectations both positively and negatively

16. 16 Most students will not automatically choose to enroll in nontraditional programs. They must be recruited!

17. 17 Career Counseling Technical fluency Realistic information Gender stereotypes Role models Exploration activities

18. 18 Recruitment Strategies Parent involvement [orientations, open house] Sponsor career fairs, industry tours Career exploration �hands on� events Role models and mentors Recruitment materials; career information Departmental reputations Individual invitations to special events Chambers of Commerce with B and I links, postsecondary partners Expaning Your Horizons Robot Day Camp Competition - by invitation and with scholarships to identified students; GE �She Wants to Be an Engineer � Effective use of role models and mentors - attractive and relevant Media and print messages scanned for gender bias Work with faculty toward a positive recruitment plan Recruit from leadership groups; facualty identify prospective students Readch oaut to parents Chambers of Commerce with B and I links, postsecondary partners Expaning Your Horizons Robot Day Camp Competition - by invitation and with scholarships to identified students; GE �She Wants to Be an Engineer � Effective use of role models and mentors - attractive and relevant Media and print messages scanned for gender bias Work with faculty toward a positive recruitment plan Recruit from leadership groups; facualty identify prospective students Readch oaut to parents

19. 19 Retention: Why NT Students Leave �Gendered classroom� Campus climate Family and peer influence Lack of supportive services Career counseling/advisement �Pioneer syndrome� Gendered classroom: Gendered classroom - male or female culture- Differential treatment - Faculty attitude and preparation Campus climate � policies related to gender equity and harassment � residential and social environment � commitment to retention Family and peer influence � ambivalence about career choice, looking for reasons to discourage Need clubs, faculty advisors, resources to support retention Need clear connection between education/preparation and possibilities in the chosen field; also realistic information about requirements of preparation for that field; using sectors instead of individual jobs; developing steps of a career ladder; funding for education, etc. Students often don�t want to be a �pioneer�, just an engineer or a nurse, etc.Gendered classroom: Gendered classroom - male or female culture- Differential treatment - Faculty attitude and preparation Campus climate � policies related to gender equity and harassment � residential and social environment � commitment to retention Family and peer influence � ambivalence about career choice, looking for reasons to discourage Need clubs, faculty advisors, resources to support retention Need clear connection between education/preparation and possibilities in the chosen field; also realistic information about requirements of preparation for that field; using sectors instead of individual jobs; developing steps of a career ladder; funding for education, etc. Students often don�t want to be a �pioneer�, just an engineer or a nurse, etc.

20. 20 Retention: Ways to Help NT Students Succeed Equitable classroom environment Professional development Supportive services Pre-technical preparation Positive campus climate Institutional commitment Classroom that is gender neutral Faculty and staff are sensitive to gender issues; knowledgeable about solutions to gender-based problems; aware of campus policies and responsibilities Supportive services � clubs and support groups; mentors, tutors, access to worksites Pre-technical preparation � meeting performance levels and other criteria of requirements for specific program; realistic advisement and career counseling Positive campus climate � policies in place and supported, etc. Team building activities; special group events for academies or all NT�s Institutional commitment � to spirit of Perkins III � retention committees � adequate staff and resources to effort, etc. Classroom that is gender neutral Faculty and staff are sensitive to gender issues; knowledgeable about solutions to gender-based problems; aware of campus policies and responsibilities Supportive services � clubs and support groups; mentors, tutors, access to worksites Pre-technical preparation � meeting performance levels and other criteria of requirements for specific program; realistic advisement and career counseling Positive campus climate � policies in place and supported, etc. Team building activities; special group events for academies or all NT�s Institutional commitment � to spirit of Perkins III � retention committees � adequate staff and resources to effort, etc.

21. 21 NYS Project for Nontraditional Training and Employment Web site www.albany.edu/nontraditionalcareers Online library Resources Videos Print materials Workshops and Technical assistance