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Attracting Women into Male-Dominated Trades: Views of Young Women in Australia

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Title: Attracting Women into Male-Dominated Trades: Views of Young Women in Australia
Language: English
Authors: Struthers, Karen, Strachan, Glenda
Source: International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training. April 2019 6(1):1-19.
Availability: European Educational Research Association / European Research Network Vocational Education and Training.Am Fallturm 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany. Tel: +49-421-218-66336; Fax: +49-421-218-98-66336; e-mail: ijrvet@uni-bremen.de; Web site: http://www.ijrvet.net
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2019
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Females, Foreign Countries, Vocational Education, Nontraditional Occupations, Trade and Industrial Education, Sex Stereotypes, Career Choice, Skilled Workers, Secondary Schools, Secondary School Students, Barriers, Student Attitudes, Student Interests
Geographic Terms: Australia
ISSN: 2197-8646
Abstract: Context: The persistent low female participation in male-dominated trades and VET courses is not attracting a high level of public attention and policy action. There are determined, albeit ad hoc actions by advocates to raise awareness of the economic and social benefits that can result from increased female participation in the male-dominated trades. Despite these efforts gender segregation of the trades remains resistant to change. Approach: To better understand the barriers limiting female participation in the male-dominated trades from the perspective of young women, this PhD study features interviews with female secondary students in four secondary schools in Queensland, Australia, and interviews with VET, school and industry stakeholders. The three primary research questions are: 1) What is the extent of gender segregation in VET and typically male-dominated trades in Australia, and how does this compare internationally? 2) Why do very few female students choose male-dominated trades as their job pathway? 3) What can be done, particularly in the education and training sectors, to increase female interest in, and take-up of, the male-dominated trades? Findings: The results of this research showed that the composition of trade-qualified females in male-dominated trades is persistently low at 2-3%. The views of young women affirmed the evidence showing system-wide barriers limit female interest in male-dominated VET trade courses and trade careers. Most influential is that gender stereotypes of work are set by Year 10 and that female enrolment in Maths (a pre-requisite for male-dominated careers) is low; these trades are seen as "jobs for the boys who don't do academic," and the fear of intimidation and harassment deters young women. Low enrolment of female students in male-dominated VET trade courses indicates that this entrenched occupational segregation of the trades will remain resistant to change for some time to come. Conclusion: The findings indicate that ad hoc responses to overcome gender segregation of the trades is not effective. Influenced by systems theory and a social ecological model (SEM) of change, the researchers promote the need for sustained, nation-wide awareness and action involving VET and school sectors, industry, government and trade unions to attract more women into male-dominated trades.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2019
Accession Number: EJ1214589
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Attracting Women into Male-Dominated Trades: Views of Young Women in Australia
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+for+Research+in+Vocational+Education+and+Training%22"><i>International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training</i></searchLink>. April 2019 6(1):1-19.
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  Data: European Educational Research Association / European Research Network Vocational Education and Training.Am Fallturm 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany. Tel: +49-421-218-66336; Fax: +49-421-218-98-66336; e-mail: ijrvet@uni-bremen.de; Web site: http://www.ijrvet.net
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Females%22">Females</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+Education%22">Vocational Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nontraditional+Occupations%22">Nontraditional Occupations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trade+and+Industrial+Education%22">Trade and Industrial Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+Stereotypes%22">Sex Stereotypes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skilled+Workers%22">Skilled Workers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+Schools%22">Secondary Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Students%22">Secondary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Interests%22">Student Interests</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 2197-8646
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Context: The persistent low female participation in male-dominated trades and VET courses is not attracting a high level of public attention and policy action. There are determined, albeit ad hoc actions by advocates to raise awareness of the economic and social benefits that can result from increased female participation in the male-dominated trades. Despite these efforts gender segregation of the trades remains resistant to change. Approach: To better understand the barriers limiting female participation in the male-dominated trades from the perspective of young women, this PhD study features interviews with female secondary students in four secondary schools in Queensland, Australia, and interviews with VET, school and industry stakeholders. The three primary research questions are: 1) What is the extent of gender segregation in VET and typically male-dominated trades in Australia, and how does this compare internationally? 2) Why do very few female students choose male-dominated trades as their job pathway? 3) What can be done, particularly in the education and training sectors, to increase female interest in, and take-up of, the male-dominated trades? Findings: The results of this research showed that the composition of trade-qualified females in male-dominated trades is persistently low at 2-3%. The views of young women affirmed the evidence showing system-wide barriers limit female interest in male-dominated VET trade courses and trade careers. Most influential is that gender stereotypes of work are set by Year 10 and that female enrolment in Maths (a pre-requisite for male-dominated careers) is low; these trades are seen as "jobs for the boys who don't do academic," and the fear of intimidation and harassment deters young women. Low enrolment of female students in male-dominated VET trade courses indicates that this entrenched occupational segregation of the trades will remain resistant to change for some time to come. Conclusion: The findings indicate that ad hoc responses to overcome gender segregation of the trades is not effective. Influenced by systems theory and a social ecological model (SEM) of change, the researchers promote the need for sustained, nation-wide awareness and action involving VET and school sectors, industry, government and trade unions to attract more women into male-dominated trades.
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  Data: EJ1214589
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1214589
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Females
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nontraditional Occupations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trade and Industrial Education
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      – SubjectFull: Sex Stereotypes
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      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
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      – SubjectFull: Skilled Workers
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      – SubjectFull: Secondary Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Student Interests
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      – SubjectFull: Australia
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      – TitleFull: Attracting Women into Male-Dominated Trades: Views of Young Women in Australia
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