CAREER ORIENTATION OF FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENTS A SOCIO PHYCHOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

newline The social role expectations for females are not yet clearly defined in our society, and hence the identity in our social psychological obstacles to their achievement in education, career planning and simultaneously opting for marriage and family remains an important issue for researcher. The report of the committee on the status of women in India (CSWI, 1974) had also drawn attention to the great variation in the condition of women throughout the country and to the need of development programmer for their full participation in social and economic fields. The advent of International Women s Year (1975) apparently spurred the increased interest in research on Indian women. The year 1985 marked the end of United national Decade for women, a ten year period, in which national governments and international communities have realized that without the complete integration of women in development programmer, improvement in general quality of life will not be achieved. It was also felt that the improvement in the role and status of women is very important. newlineHowever, with the changing world, the concept of education is experiencing a complete transvaluation. Since sixth five year plan (1980-85) there have been specific provisions for women s development with respect to education, health and employment. In this context, it is worth mentioning that there has been improvement in female literacy which is still low in comparison to the respective male literacy rates. In a subsistence society, women enjoy a lower status than man, society, economically and politically. It is quite clear that only educational attainments along with assessed masculinity of woman s are significant predictors of woman s career achievement (Wong et al., 1983). Attributions of success to ability and effort and associated with feelings of competence and pride, which should enhance expectancy of future success and achievement motivation. newlineStudies have found that woman s view of intellectual activities career accomplishments appropriate for their sex vary considerable (Kstrom, 1972). Bem and Bem (1973) examined the influence of sex role, socialization and found that woman s role sample held many values that made home- making and career role incompatible. A common belief among men and women alike is that the working women by definitions, neglects her children especially if she works when they are very young (Wallston, 1973).