Poster Session #1: UC Ballroom

Author Information

Christine BilunkaFollow

Presentation Type

Poster

Faculty Mentor’s Full Name

Kathy Kuipers

Faculty Mentor’s Department

Sociology

Abstract / Artist's Statement

The objective of this research project is to measure attitudes associated with occupational segregation by sex. Specifically, the researcher seeks to see how subjects participating in the study participate in job typing along gender lines. To do so, the researcher will utilize qualitative methods in a lab setting. These methods will include asking female subjects to view an array of photographs of men and women in occupation-specific attire and situations and write a short response to the photos.

In one condition, subjects will view two photographs of men in female-dominated work settings, in another they will be shown females in female-dominated work settings, in yet another they will be shown males in male-dominated settings, and in the final condition, subjects will be shown females in male-dominated work settings. The responses given will be put through data-mining software to parse the language and discourse surrounding gender in the workplace. In doing so, the researcher aims to find what kind of patterns in language surrounding gender and career expectations emerge. This component of the research method will aid the researcher in uncovering what kinds of responses are elicited when a woman is seen in a traditionally male-dominated career track.

Once this test has been administered, subjects will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire with items to identify their areas of study, political orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The questionnaires and the responses will be compared to see if any outstanding relationships between the subjects' backgrounds and their responses to the photo arrays emerge. In undertaking this research, we hope to find out what kind of attitudes might affect career outcomes for women at a fundamental level.

Category

Social Sciences

Share

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 11:00 AM Apr 11th, 12:00 PM

A Qualitative Analysis on Discourse in Occupational Segregation Along a Gender Dimension

The objective of this research project is to measure attitudes associated with occupational segregation by sex. Specifically, the researcher seeks to see how subjects participating in the study participate in job typing along gender lines. To do so, the researcher will utilize qualitative methods in a lab setting. These methods will include asking female subjects to view an array of photographs of men and women in occupation-specific attire and situations and write a short response to the photos.

In one condition, subjects will view two photographs of men in female-dominated work settings, in another they will be shown females in female-dominated work settings, in yet another they will be shown males in male-dominated settings, and in the final condition, subjects will be shown females in male-dominated work settings. The responses given will be put through data-mining software to parse the language and discourse surrounding gender in the workplace. In doing so, the researcher aims to find what kind of patterns in language surrounding gender and career expectations emerge. This component of the research method will aid the researcher in uncovering what kinds of responses are elicited when a woman is seen in a traditionally male-dominated career track.

Once this test has been administered, subjects will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire with items to identify their areas of study, political orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The questionnaires and the responses will be compared to see if any outstanding relationships between the subjects' backgrounds and their responses to the photo arrays emerge. In undertaking this research, we hope to find out what kind of attitudes might affect career outcomes for women at a fundamental level.