Exploring Filipino preschool children’s career aspirations and gender stereotyping

• Main Author: Villaseran, Geneline Tan
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: Children > Vocational education > Philippines; Vocational interests; Vocational education; Early Childhood Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_elmd/22
• Institution: De La Salle University

Children’s career aspirations were previously found to be influential to future career paths. However, due to misconceptions based on gender stereotypes, potential career options are being eliminated beginning at an early age. The present study is therefore a mixed methods investigation of the career aspirations of Filipino children aged four to six, its gender stereotypicality, and influences on their choice; interviewing 56 children and surveying their parents and teachers. Further understanding of these gender perceptions on career aspirations has implications for advocating careers education in the early years and the inclusion of gender responsive practices. Parallel to previous international research, local children’s career aspirations were found to be gender stereotypical. Popular professions for girls are those in health or public service such as doctors and teachers; as they involve traditionally feminine traits of being caring or nurturing. Most boys aspire to careers in the safety and defense sector such as firefighter and police, emphasizing masculine traits of protectiveness and strength. Girls are more likely to choose gender atypical career aspirations compared to boys. The impact of role models was seen as many of the students chose a profession held by an admired adult whether it was their own parents’ employment, roles encountered in conventional everyday life activities, or as seen in media.