Career plans and gender-role attitudes of college students in the United States, Japan, and Slovenia

Abstract

Attitudes about careers and gender role attitudes were examined in samples of female and male college students from the United States (n=156), Japan (n=621), and Slovenia (n=157). Factor analyses indicated that career values formed different factors within each country and gender group and that factors for men and women were relatively similar in Japan, but differed by gender more in Slovenia and the United States. Overall, U.S. students were highest in traditional work values and career aspirations. Women in all three countries were less traditional in gender role attitudes than men, and students from Japan had the most traditional gender role attitudes. Women with less traditional gender role attitudes were found to be more career oriented, although the correlation was not statistically significant for Slovenian women. Other correlations for gender role attitudes and career items differed across countries.