Gender identity and level of professional aspirations in undergraduates

Differences in professional aspirations of men and women is one of the factors that may explain gender differences in our society. We focused on the variables that influence professional aspirations in people who have a clear professional orientation but still are not at the workplace. Results show that women generally have lower professional aspirations than men. Individuals with a low level of achievement, especially those who have a low level of masculinity, also showed lower professional aspirations than those who have a high level of achievement. Social pressures and a socialization style based on dependence and passivity could explain cases of low professional expectations.