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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

gendering, college students, majors, gender

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

Abstract

While 13.8% of workers in architecture and engineering occupations are women, 77.6% of personal care and service workers are female (Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2005). What is the cause of this discrepancy? While these occupations are so heavily gendered, 50.3% of workers in management, professional, and related occupations are women (Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2005). Why are these not gendered? Men and women go on for higher education to develop skills needed to form a career, and the representation of men and women in most large universities is evenly divided at 50% each, but many individual majors are specifically gendered mirroring the labor market. This study will analyze what factors influence students to choose their college majors. Previous studies have examined various possible explanations for the gendering of majors. Looking at SAT scores, false stereotypes, environmental factors, and sex-discrimination. What is not as well understood, however, is if the individual personally feels that their choice correlates with their familial influences or peer relationships. This qualitative study examines specifically whom college students perceive as their primary influences in choosing a major and the rationale individual students use to explain their major choice, specifically looking at relationships with family and friends and how influences are affected by gender. Information was gathered using a semi-structured interview. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed word for word. Using NVIVO7, an extensive content analysis was conducted to determine what patterns emerged among students.

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