Factors associated with career choice of university women in medicine and nursing.

In the past two decades as women began to enter the labor force in increasing numbers and for longer periods of time, interest began to develop in their career aspirations and vocational development. It became increasingly apparent that existing theories of career development and career choice were relevant for men but not for women (Bardwick, 1971; Farmer, 1978; Horner, 1968, Osipow, 1973). Researchers were encouraged by these authors, and others, to explore those factors which influence career and achievement motivation in women, in order that a theoretical model for career development in women might be formulated. The career goals of college women have been categorized as traditional and nontraditional. Traditional careers for women are those that are dominated primarily by women. They tend to allow one to have an intermittent involvement in that career and represent an extension of women's domestic role. Such occupations include nursing, teaching (elementary education), home economics, and library science. Nontraditional careers for women are those that are dominated primarily by men and, by their nature, are more demanding of time and energy, thus requiring greater career commitment. Such careers include science, law, dentistry, medicine, engineering, architecture, and the clergy (Almquist, 1974).