Working Conditions and Career Options Lead to Female Elementary Teacher Job Dissatisfaction

Vocational Personality Types and Sex‐Role Perceptions of Teachers, Counselors, and Educational Administrators

“…The educators in this study looked more favorably upon their occupations than might have been expected, considering some of the studies and articles reporting dissatisfaction among educators (Friesen et al, 1983;Reiner & Hartshorne, 1982; Wangberg et al, 1982;Watkins, 1983). Of the respondents, 95% indicated that they derived "Moderate" or "Great Satisfaction," and 55% reported that they derived "Great Satisfaction" from their present positions.…”

“…It was found that, while length of service was not significantly related to the assumption of a particular vocational personality type, there was indication of a positive relationship between androgynous sex-role self-perceptions and high job satisfaction for both female and male respondents. Implications of these findings for the career development of educators are discussed, and suggestions for further research are noted.Studies and reports from only a few years ago revealed a growing level ofjob dissatisfaction among teachers (Reed, 1979;Sparks, 1979; Stress bothers many teachers, 1980; Wangberg, Metzger, & Levitou, 1982). Many women who traditionally would have been attracted to teaching, for example, have chosen work in private industry, and the number of college freshmen women expressing interest in teaching plummeted between 1960 and 1980 (The end of an era, 1980).…”

“…Studies and reports from only a few years ago revealed a growing level ofjob dissatisfaction among teachers (Reed, 1979;Sparks, 1979; Stress bothers many teachers, 1980; Wangberg, Metzger, & Levitou, 1982). Many women who traditionally would have been attracted to teaching, for example, have chosen work in private industry, and the number of college freshmen women expressing interest in teaching plummeted between 1960 and 1980 (The end of an era, 1980).…”

“…Studies of the job dissatisfaction of educators have found deficiencies in quality of work life (Materka, 1980), and limited professional recognition (Wangberg et al, 1982) as major contributors to dissatisfaction. In the Wangberg study, for example, teachers were found to be highly job motivated to the point that they linked their identities to their careers.…”

Perspectives on Reasons for Becoming Teachers

“…Schlechty and Vance (1983) reported that a disproportionate number of white females, compared to equally able men and minorities, have no interest in teaching. Having a career has become important to the identities of women (Wangberg, Metzger, and Levitov, 1982); the fact that teaching previously was looked upon as a safe profession for women and identified with the tradition of child care may explain the strong negative reaction apparently held by many women. The negative image of the teaching profession also relates to the social environment of the early 1980s.…”