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Mid-career change in women: The role of marriage and family

Posted on:1990-07-19Degree:Ph.DType:Dissertation
University:University of California, BerkeleyCandidate:Daniels, Lynette GFull Text:PDF
GTID:1477390017453941Subject:Education
Abstract/Summary:
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of marriage and family issues on the decision of women to change careers. Its secondary purpose was to identify other motivating factors for career change among women, comparing those factors for their impact on women who chose to switch to nontraditional careers and those who changed to traditional careers. A sample of women who had indicated their intent to change careers by enrolling in graduate school programs in Library Science and Business Administration were asked to complete a questionnaire surveying their background, decision to change careers, and attitudes toward marriage and family issues as they related to their career change. Interested subjects were invited to participate in an oral interview to explore these issues further.; The main conclusion to be drawn from this study is that career/marriage role conflict does not appear to be a motivating force or interfering problem for these women career changers. Job dissatisfaction and the attractiveness of new careers were primary motivating forces for career change. These career changers were concerned about many of the same career issues that male career changers have expressed: compensation, growth, challenge, lack of fit between career and self. They expressed less concern about the traditional issues for women of marriage and family. These issues play a secondary supporting role in providing support for and the opportunity to change.; What is still uncertain is whether women changers are different in their relative lack of traditional concerns from working women who do not chose to change, or whether they are representative of a change in women that is more widespread: the attitude that both work and marriage/family are perceived as normal aspects of a woman's life.
Keywords/Search Tags:Women, Marriage, Family, Change, Career, Issues, Role
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