This discussion paper summarizes recent literature and concepts concerning the career development of women, relates this material to careers in merchandising, examines somepreliminary data provided by 115 graduates of a four-year baccalaureate program in fashion merchandising, and raises some issues that require further investigation by educators and researchers in the discipline. The author concludes that fashion merchandising appears to provide a viable basis for a career in retailing but emphasized the need for comparative and longitudinal research designs to track the career development of women in this field. Educators are encouraged to emphasize the increasing need for career preparation for women, to teach transferable skills, to investigate the role of continuing study in meeting the labor market needs of retailers, and to prepare women to compete for upper and middle management positions in retailing.
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