Chapter 6 Education and Achievement ___________________________

Women’s Educational Values, Attainments, and Campus Experiences Educational goals Across ethnicities, adolescent girls have higher educational and occupational goals than boys Middle-class boys plan to go to college; most working-class boys do not _______________________

Women’s Educational Values, Attainments, and Campus Experiences Educational attainments Dramatic changes for women since 1985 Women now obtain majority of associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees ________________________

Women’s Educational Values, Attainments, and Campus Experiences Campus climate “ Chilly climate” – faculty members display different expectations for women students, or single them out or ignore them Biased treatment of women students Biased coverage of course material Microaggressions Effects of chilly climate on women students and faculty members Reflection of gender inequality of power _________________________

Women’s Educational Values, Attainments, and Campus Experiences Campus climate The academic environment for women of color Primarily White campuses experienced as unwelcoming and unsupportive Stereotype threat Individualist values of college may conflict with collectivist values of culture _________________________

Women’s Educational Values, Attainments, and Campus Experiences Campus climate The academic environment for working-class and poor women Feel they have to hide their backgrounds Intellectual disadvantage Challenges for women on welfare Higher education important route to higher income _________________________

Women’s Educational Values, Attainments, and Campus Experiences Campus climate Single-sex institutions More leadership opportunities, expectations, and role models Women participate more in class, collaborate more, report higher levels of support Increased self-confidence, less sexism Women more likely to pursue male-dominated fields and earn higher salaries ________________________

Women’s Work-Related Goals Career aspirations Differences among women Differences between women and men No differences in prestige of aspirations or motivation to succeed In high school and college, women lower aspirations, major in less prestigious fields, end up in lower-level careers Women more likely to major in “people-focused” areas Women less likely to pursue computer and physical sciences, engineering Differential encouragement Stereotypes Lack of role models Discrimination __________________________

Women’s Work-Related Goals Career counseling Remains gender biased Girls discouraged from advanced math or science Bias in vocational interest inventories and aptitude testing What can career counselors do? Advocate for family-friendly work policies Locate mentors Encourage partners to participate in housework Help develop effective coping strategies Help obtain education and training ________________________

Women’s Work-Related Goals Work-family expectations Most women currently want career, marriage, and motherhood White women want to interrupt careers when they become mothers Black women want to discontinue employment for shorter time than White women White women more likely to believe that maternal employment harmful to young children College-educated Black women have stronger work orientation than college-educated White women Challenges for educated women of color in finding educated man of color as mate __________________________

Women’s Work-Related Goals Work-family outcomes Do women’s work-family aspirations match their actual outcomes? Hoffnung’s (2004) longitudinal survey Career remains major focus throughout 20s Not quite half of women had married Most had not started a family Those who were mothers had fewer advanced degrees, lower status careers Women of color less likely to be married than White women _________________________

Women’s Work-Related Goals Salary expectations Women expect lower salaries than men Why? Women base their expectations on known salary discrepancies Women lower expectations because they expect to accommodate to fulfill family obligations Women underestimate their worth __________________________

Influences on Women’s Achievement Level and Career Decisions Orientation to achievement Achievement motivation Fear of success Achievement attributions Self-serving attributional bias Achievement self-confidence __________________________

Influences on Women’s Achievement Level and Career Decisions Personal characteristics Women who pick male-dominated careers more competitive, autonomous, and instrumental than those who pick female- dominated careers Self-efficacy __________________________

Influences on Women’s Achievement Level and Career Decisions Sexual orientation Awareness of sexual identity can influence career development Coming out: may lose family support related to career- selection process Perception of occupational climate Lesbians less traditional in gendered attitudes about occupations ________________________

Influences on Women’s Achievement Level and Career Decisions Social and cultural factors Support from parents Cultural values Black women Professional attainment is family, not only individual, goal Sense of obligation to family Concern for communities Conflicts between family/cultural values and values oriented toward career attainment Values associated with social class position ________________________

Influences on Women’s Achievement Level and Career Decisions Job-related characteristics Men somewhat more likely to value material success, promotions, challenge, power, etc. Women somewhat more likely to value interpersonal relationships, helping others, balancing professional and personal goals Mothers place greater emphasis on flexible hours and ease of commute Recent increase in value women place on job security, power, prestige, accomplishment, etc. __________________________