Life stages, career choice and adjustment of filipino women business executives

• Main Author: Villarosa, Celia Jessica L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1985
• Subjects: Women executives > Psychology; Adjustment (Psychology); Executives > Vocational guidance; Career development; Counseling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/1222
• Institution: De La Salle University

This is a study of the life stages, career choice and adjustment of 30 Filipino women business executives. This study made use of a career development model to show the interrelationships between the life stages, the process of choosing a career and the corresponding adjustment and that these career development components are dependent on each other. Thirty women were the subjects of this study. The collection of information on the life, career histories and adjustment of the women executives were obtained through the distribution of a questionnaire and an in-depth interview, most of which were audio-taped. Data from the interviews and questionnaires were organized into 4 sections in line with the concept of life stages: growth stage, exploratory stage, establishment stage, and maintenance stage. The subjects' family history, career history, career adjustment and career plans were established as they occurred within the life stages. The subjects' family history showed a significant number of common background characteristics with a majority of the subjects being first-born and/or only child. A developmental pattern based on the subjects' family history and career history was established. The pattern illustrated that subjects shared similar background experiences which were responsible in shaping personal common characteristics that helped them achieve and maintain their executive positions. The findings showed that majority of the subjects' vocational needs correspond to specific reinforcers in their jobs. It also revealed that subjects perceived themselves as successful in their career but not successful overall in their lives. In general, unmarried subjects appear to be happier than their married counterparts with regards to their present jobs, organization, career progress, family and life as a whole. The study also indicated that subjects experience a great deal of stress and that the stress pattern had been increasing in the last 5 years. This illustrates that as a woman goes up the corporate executive ladder, the more she is prone to suffer from stress. Their family -- children, spouse and in-laws are the major stressors of married subjects while the unmarried ones identified job demands, responsibilities, and job frustrations as their major stressors. As such, it becomes apparent that the subjects need professional counseling services in handling their various personal concerns. Women executives also have a strong drive for achievement as shown by their expectation and desire to become chief executive officers in their respective organizations.