Uppeldi og menntun - 01.07.2005, Side 69

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are gender differences in
cognitive maps of occupations and study their composition. The research sample was
composed of 911 students in 10th grade, 414 girls and 497 boys. Participants were asked
for their view on 12 aspects of 11 different occupations. The results showed a significant
difference between boys’ and girls’ perceptions of occupations, especially “female
professions”. In comparison with the girls boys perceived that these occupations were
less respected, not as useful and entailed less responsibility. Also, boys felt that “male
professions” paid better, whereas girls believed that “female occupations” led to a
higher income than boys did. On the other hand, boys and girls usually agreed in their
mapping on whether an occupation was perceived as “female” or “male”. These results
are inconsistent with Gottfredson’s theory of a universal map of occupations, since there
is a systematic gender difference in occupational thinking. These results support
Bourdieu’s theory that gender habitus leads to different thought processes. Implications
for guidance practices are discussed.
Gu›björg Vilhjálmsdóttir er lektor
í náms- og starfsrá›gjöf vi› Háskóla Íslands
Gu›mundur B. Arnkelsson er dósent
í sálfræ›i vi› Háskóla Íslands
G U ÐB J Ö R G V I L H J Á L M S D Ó T T I R O G G U ÐM U N D U R B . A R N K E L SS O N
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