The Desire for Security in Vocational Choice: A Comparison of Men and Women

Abstract

Summary A previously developed 40-item inventory, designed to measure the degree of emphasis placed upon a desire for security in choosing a job or an occupation, was completed anonymously by 102 men and 91 women. The difference between the mean security score of the men when compared to that of the women was not statistically significant. However, statistically significant differences were found between mean scores of subsamples of 26 men and of 22 women with the occupational orientation of business when compared with mean scores of subsamples of 25 men and of 21 women, respectively, in education. The results imply that consideration of security aspects is appropriate to vocational decisions, but not on a differential sex basis. It is suggested that if present societal trends continue, intrasex differences in vocational choice could be expected to become more evident than intersex differences.