Work Orientations of Males and Females: Exploring the Gender Socialization Approach*

Abstract

Earlier surveys show differences in work orientations of males and females, but these were based on mostly sex‐segregated workers. Two broad explanations are used to examine differences in work orientations of males and females: namely the socialstructural and the gender‐socialization approaches. A secondary analysis of 22 separate sudies of specific occupations are combined and used to determine if the sexes display different patterns on ten work dimensions when occupation is held constant. Patterned differences in work orientations between the sexes persist supporting the gender socialization approach. Implications for workplace discrimination are discussed.

Job Preferences in Comparative Perspective 1989–2015: A Multidimensional Evaluation of Individual and Contextual Influences

“…In addition, early gendered socialization can be expected to influence the development of subsequent gendered work values (Alwin, Braun, and Scott 1992). In contexts more extensively marked by traditional division of gender roles, women could be expected to place greater emphasis on intrinsic jobs values, whereas men's work values would be more extrinsically oriented (Betz and O'Connell 1989). This expectation may also be related to how labor markets are markedly gendered, with more women employed in the (public) care services promoting what is known as care-rational motivations (Waerness 1984(Waerness , 2003, which would be reflected in stronger intrinsic valuations among women.…”

Bending the Pipeline? Executive Search and Gender Inequality in Hiring for Top Management Jobs

“…Scholars debate why these gender differences in career patterns emerge; suggested explanations include gender differences in socialization (O'Leary 1974;Marini and Brinton 1984;Betz and O'Connell 1989;Subich et al 1989;Marini et al 1996), segregated social network processes (Belliveau 2005), and stereotypical cultural beliefs about gendered job roles (Cejka and Eagly 1999) or gendered family roles (Becker 1991; but see Bielby andBielby 1984, 1988). In addition, Correll (2001Correll ( , 2004 argues that women have downwardly biased self-assessments of their own competences, and these biases are manifested in women's job choices.…”

Stereotypical Portrayals of Emotionality in News Photos

“…For instance, women value interdependent, nurturing relationships (Cook, 1993) with priorities that emphasize family values and roles (Kinnier, Katz & Berry, 1991), whereas men are presumed to value independent, assertive and goal-directed behavior (Cook, 1993) with priorities that relate to self-perception and self-promotion (Aven, Parker & McEvoy, 1993). Evidence from various disciplines suggests that men and women have different moral thinking (Grant, 1988), different gender-linked language (Mulac, Bradac & Gibbons, 2001), and different work interests and concerns (Betz & O'Connell, 1989). Women also relate differently to people than men and advocate more democracy, less hierarchy and more cooperation than their male counterparts (Haugen & Brandth, 1994).…”