Gender-related factors influencing career choice of psychologists and technologists

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a survey among members of the Icelandic Psychological Association and the Icelandic Association of Technical Specialists. The members were asked about occupational choice in an online survey. The response rate was 28%. The main findings are that the members chose their occupation in their teens or later and that spouse and siblings had a stronger impact on the occupational choice of women than that of men. Men have higher salaries than women. The most influential factors on occupational choice were talent, interest and professional appeal. A substantial difference was found between the genders. Men placed more emphasis on salary, whereas women found it more important to lead by good example and be able to help others. Women also found it more important that their job should be family friendly and considered it more likely than men that they would take a break from work due to family reasons. Women were more often responsible for domestic work and child rearing, although most of the participants believed the responsibility to be shared equally between the genders.