Occupational Sex-Typing and Occupational Prestige

Abstract

The study examines the impact of occupational prestige (high, medium, and low) on sex-typing of occupations in Israel based on gender and age group (adolescents, university students, and teachers). No differences in sex-typing of high-prestige occupations were found across age groups. At the low and medium occupational prestige levels, however, the adolescents and teachers showed a greater tendency toward sex-typing than did the students. Regarding gender differences, the female respondents showed a greater tendency toward occupational sex-typing at the high-and medium-prestige levels than did the males, regardless of age. Both the males and females perceived the high-prestige occupations as more feminine than the medium- and low-prestige occupations. Based on the findings, the article provides practical recommendations for educating adolescents toward less stereotyped perspectives of occupational gender roles.