The moderating role of openness and (un)conventionality on the relationship between gender and vocational interests

Abstract

Background: Vocational interests which can be categorized into six inter-related categories show large gender differences. The current study explores the personality traits of individuals who deviate from stereotypical gender patterns. We focused on two personality traits, Openness and (Un)conventionality, which we hypothesized will interact with gender to predict whether an individual follows or deviates from a gender stereotypical vocational interest. Aims: This study aimed to examine whether specific personality traits, namely Openness and (Un)conventionality, will moderate the direct relationship between gender and vocational interests. Methods: We administered an online survey to a convenience sample of college students (N= 197) to measure personality and vocational interests using psychometrically robust tools. Results: We found partial support for all hypotheses. Males reported to be progressive, secular and unbound by tradition (i.e. higher on the trait of (Un)conventionality) were more likely than traditional males, to report being interested in Social vocations which are typically female-dominated. Conversely, females reporting high (Un)conventionality, were more likely than those who were traditional, to deviate from gender-typical vocational interests and report little interest in female-dominated Social vocations. We also found significant main effects between gender and vocational interests, and between gender and college major, so that men were much more likely than women to be in enrolled in a STEM rather than non-STEM major, and men reported much more interest than women, in Investigative and Realistic interests. Discussion: These findings highlight the need to examine the role of adherence to tradition and being unconventional in explaining gender differences found in vocational interests. They also highlight the need for more studies that explain and propose interventions to increase the likelihood of women enrolling in STEM majors.