Career role models of heterosexual and gay, lesbian, and bisexual college students

The lack of role models has been cited as a barrier in the career development of sexual minority individuals (Fassinger, 1996; Fassinger, 2008). Despite the theoretical arguments about the importance of gay, lesbian and bisexual role models for sexual minority individuals there is a paucity of empirical literature examining this topic. In one such study, Nauta, Saucier, and Woodard (2001) found that sexual minority individuals reported a higher number of role models than their heterosexual peers, but significantly less support and guidance when making academic and career decisions. Additionally, they found that sexual minority individuals sought role models who were of their same sexual orientation or supportive of people of their sexual orientation.;The current study is a replication and extension of Nauta et al. (2001), and examined differences in the academic and career role models of sexual minority students and heterosexual students. Specifically, number of role models, number of role models known personally, characteristics sought in academic and career role models, actual characteristics of the role models, and the amount of guidance and support and inspiration and modeling received when making academic and career decisions were explored.;The final sample included 193 undergraduate students (92 identified as heterosexual and 101 identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual). Results indicated that sexual minority students reported more academic and career role models overall, as well as more academic and career role models with whom they share an interpersonal relationship. Contrary to expectation, sexual minority students did not endorse desiring academic and career role models who were also sexual minorities; however, they did desire their role models to be supportive of sexual minorities, as well as members of a minority group. Sexual minority students also reported equal amounts of support and guidance and inspiration and modeling when making academic and career decisions compared with their heterosexual peers. This study adds to a small but growing body of literature exploring how the career development of sexual minority students may differ from that of heterosexual students, and this has practical implications for academic advisement and career services on college campuses.