In Switzerland girls and boys choose their careers according to different patterns. What are the causes of these differences? How can effective action be taken against them?
Background
In Switzerland boys and girls choose different occupations. Until now, measures to expand the range of careers chosen by girls and boys have not achieved the expected impacts.
Aim
The project arose from cooperation between a section in the Department of Education and a research group at the university. The aim is to find out why boys’ and girls’ career interests and career choices at the end of compulsory education are still different. The intention is to produce new findings on the effectiveness of measures that were implemented to foster gender role-independent career choices by boys and girls. In five cantons, pupils in lower secondary level will be questioned about their career aspirations, their gender identity and their views on gender relations. Their parents and teachers will be surveyed on comparable questions. The data from these surveys and a comparison of the data with secondary analyses of large national surveys will yield important information on what induces young people to make gender-specific education and career choices at the end of compulsory schooling. In cooperation with gender equality experts, the researchers will also analyse where the problems and challenges lie in today’s measures to promote gender-independent career choice.
Significance
The recommendations from the research project will allow all of the actors involved to work harder towards more equal opportunities for girls and boys in their career aspirations, career interests and career choices.
Original title: Aspirations et orientations professionnelles des filles et des garçons en fin de scolarité obligatoire: quels déterminants pour plus d'égalité?
Grant: CHF 340‘079.-
Duration: 36 months
Project leaders
- Professor Dominique Joye, Faculté des sciences sociales et politiques, University of Lausanne
- Dr. Karin Müller, Service de la recherche en éducation (SRED), Geneva
- Dr. Edith Guilley, Service de la recherche en éducation (SRED), Geneva
- Dr. Lavinia Gianettoni, Méthodologie, inégalités et changement social (MISC), University of Lausanne
- Dr. Jacques-Antoine Gauthier, Méthodologie, inégalités et changement social (MISC), University of Lausanne
- Dominique Gros, Service de la recherche en éducation (SRED), Geneva