The career development of adolescents is one of the most important spheres that demand an additional investigation. The choice of future occupation influences the future life of a person and his/her success. For this reason, it is vital to understand the factors associated with this process and how they might influence a person. Thus, the paper by Turner et al. (2010) delves into this problem and outlines gender differences in interests and appropriate recommendations for career development. The authors state that children start to acquire gender differences under the impact of social expectations linked to gender-based career options (Turner et al., 2010). In other words, adolescents engage in activities associated with occupations stereotypically viewed as male and female (Turner et al., 2010). It also influences their future jobs and the development of skills.
One of the most important findings presented by the paper is how young people acquire specific preferences. Thus, Turner et al. (2010) found clear differences between males and females regarding their future careers and the likelihood of attaining success. Females who have interests in traditional women’s occupations are more supported by their families and demonstrate corresponding interests and skills (Turner et al., 2010). They might select social, artistic, or conventional occupations (Turner et al., 2010). A similar statement applies to males, as they are mainly focused on realistic or investigative careers (Turner et al., 2010). In such a way, there is a distinct distribution of male and female interest. In general, the article touches upon an essential theme of career choice. The authors show that rigid environments and existing stereotypes influence adolescents and their desire to engage in fields traditionally viewed as appropriate for them. To alter this pattern, a more flexible and supportive environment might be needed.
Reference
Turner, S., Conkel, J., Starkey, M., & Landgraf, R. (2010). Relationships among middle-school adolescents’ vocational skills, motivational approaches, and interests. The Career Development Quarterly, 59, 154-168. Web.