Influences on South African women's career and traditional goals

Abstract

Interview data on encouragement and discouragement for achievement-related behaviour were obtained from two groups: career women (n=100), and traditional women (n=100). Following the 20 minutes interview periods, the participants described their achievement-related experiences on 7-point scales. Career women reported more statistically significant encouragement from family members and significant others than did their traditional counterparts. There was no causal relationship between encouragement and career goals in the two groups of women. A number of significant findings and nonsignificant trends combined to suggest that for women the perception of greater encouragement from significant others in the immediate environment is necessary to compensate for the sex role expectation of nonachievement, and that women who set high goals believe they are acting in accord with significant others. This is in support of Stake and associate's hypothesis (Stake, 1979; Stake & Levitz, 1979). The combination of an interview and self-report methodologies appeared to be useful in gaining better understanding of implications of the results for the career achievement of black women.