Wil je worden wat je ouders zijn?

Abstract

Previous research suggests that parents’ careers may influence the gender-typical career aspirations of their children (Auger et al., 2005; Polavieja et al., 2014). This study examined whether this phenomenon occurs in the Netherlands. This research investigates if there is a relationship between the gender-typical occupations of parents and the gendertypical career aspirations of their children. Additionally, we explore whether this relationship is moderated by the gender of the child. In this study a distinction is made between the two parents (father and mother) and the gender of the child. 142 Dutch families participated in this research. These families al consisted of working parents with children between the ages of six and twelve (40% boys, 60% girls). A questionnaire and a computer task were administered to the participating families. The parents participated independently and the children under the supervision of the investigator. The following topics were discussed within the questionnaire and the computer task: stereotypical expectations about yourself with regard to career and family, explicit gender role stereotypes, implicit gender role stereotypes, gender identity, parents’ professions and more. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that no relation was found between the professions of the parents and the career aspirations of the children. The gender of the child also did not moderate the associations between parents’ gender typicality of occupation and the gender typicality of children’s occupational aspiration. It has been recommended that further research will be conducted in the future. This consecutive research should pay attention to the long-term development of childrens’ career aspirations. It also should pay attention to the modelling function of the parents and other adults in the child’s environment. The parents are important role models for the children and therefore they should encourage their children to choose a career that matches the interest and competences of the child instead of the gender. This will help to achieve gender equality in the Netherlands.