Gender stereotypes and goal congruity for adolescents' preferred career and highly gender‐stereotyped occupations

Social role and goal congruity theories propose that occupation gender stereotypes and goal affordances affect career interests. These assumptions were tested by examining adolescents' preferred career interests and their interest in highly gender-stereotyped occupations (HGSOs) in which their gender is also a minority (gender stereotype incongruent). U.S. students aged 12-17 years in 8th and 9th grades (N = 879; 46.5% boys) completed an online survey assessing the gender stereotype and career goals of their preferred future occupation using established rating scales (Barth et al., 2018; Barth & Yang, 2022). Students also reported the gender stereotypes and goal affordances of four HGSOs (Education, Healthcare, Engineering, Construction). Although most adolescents' preferred careers were highly gender stereotyped, their perceptions were more gender neutral. Consistent with goal congruity theory, high-earning or societally beneficial careers were of greatest interest to girls and boys, respectively. But girls rated power/status more importantly than boys. Interest in gender stereotype incongruent occupations was associated with higher ratings on all goals. Gender stereotypes for these occupations were associated with boys' interest in education and girls' interest in engineering. Findings supported and challenged social role and goal congruity theories, suggesting the need to reconsider adolescents' perceptions of gender and stereotypes.