Factors Related to College Women's Perception of Employment

Abstract

The growth in the number of females entering the labor market prompts college women to view career opportunities as a viable option for their future. A sample of 571 college freshmen women and 531 college senior women enrolled in a college of home economics at a major midwestern university provided the nec essary information relating to perception of employment. The objective of this study was to examine the importance of family and personal factors influencing a college female's perception of employment. Chi‐square analysis was performed to show the association between the independent factors (11 family variables and three personal variables) and the dependent variable (perception of employ ment). Factors showing a significant relationship with the dependent variable were mother's employment status, mother's occupation, mother's educational level, student's age, and sorority membership. Correlation coefficients were also used to show the strength and direction between the dependent and indepen dent variables. Analysis of the findings suggest that mothers are extremely im portant role models for their daughters. Mothers who are employed outside the home, have professional careers or skilled jobs, and have a college degree are significantly more likely to have daughters who see themselves as labor force participants during their adult lives. This study implies mothers who worked in more prestigious jobs and attained higher degrees of education were more in fluential on a daughter's career directions than other mothers.