Women,Career Orientation,and Employment

Abstract

This study examines age and life-cycle stage variance in women's career orientation (i.e., intention to pursue a career) and in the expression of career orientation through employment. The study group is a cross-sectional, non-probability sample of 1,120 women, ages 22–64, who contacted a major mid-western university's Center for Continuing Education of Women. Three findings predominate: (1) Career orientation is negatively related to age, reflecting greater career interest among younger women. (2) In all marital and parental status categories, high proportions of young women are career oriented, suggesting that career interest persists through the periods of family formation and expansion. (3) The greatest discrepancy between career orientation and rate of full-time employment occurs among married mothers of preschool children, suggesting that career plans are deferred during early motherhood. Discussion focuses on the implications of the findings for work and family policy and further research.