A Qualitative Study On The Career Development Of Middle School Female Teachers

With more and more women showing up in teaching profession,their career development also attract attention of researchers.This is a qualitative research on the career path development of the current women teachers of middle school.I conducted a comparison research between teachers of both genders,and a case study of 3 different kinds of teachers,so as to vividly show kinds of predicament which the middle school women teachers face.The study is aimed at finding the gender cultural factors which affect the development,and finding a suitable path for their career development.The study shows great differences exist in the career selection and education concept of both genders,which lies in the discipline,grades and region they taught,as well as the education concept,design and thought.As to the career development,women teachers often face fiercer career predicament,such as the multi-role conflict,the career glass ceiling effect,and the gender stereotype.We think the factors of gender cultural factors influencing the career development of middle school women teachers mainly consist of three folds,like the the stereotype of a strong man with a weak woman in social culture,the public opinion of returning home,the social system restrict of raising and retirement,the school management system with man being a general and woman being a solider,the strong man and weak woman thinking set in career image,the professional criterion of rational teacher,and the work division in household,as well as the role restriction of an understanding wife and loving mother.Finally,we reflect the current popular egalitarianism gender concept,and propose diverse paths for the career development of middle school women teachers,including offering a free right to select career,respecting the value of emotional work,and constructing a diverse system for assessing career.