Question 36
I would like to write my master's paper on gender and school to work
programs, but need to find out what type of information is available to
guide me in focusing my topic. Specifically, I am wondering what types of
career tracks girls are choosing or exploring. Given that the School to
Work Opportunities Act of 1994 mandates that girls be exposed to non-traditional
careers, I am curious about the extent to which this is happening. Do you
know of any data that I might be able to get access to or any reports that
deal with this issue? I would be particularly interested in data for Minnesota,
but am also collecting information about gender and school to work programs
across the country.
STW Wizard Strategies
Strategy 1
Michael Benz and Stephen Lichenstein have had two good articles comparing
postschool outcomes among women and men from special education (also Edgar
and Levine have one). Also you might want to track down some work by Linda
Gottfredson. She has an interesting theory on career development that helps
explain why they might pursue different occupations (Theory of Circumscription
and Compromise).
Strategy 2
You might contact the American Association of University Women, through
a local branch to get addresses, telephone numbers. They have done a number
of gender studies in regard to women's educational choices. Their purpose
is to support women going on to higher education, but they have gathered
a great deal of information regarding how women are perceived by the media
in sports, and how women perceive themselves. They would have other contacts.
Unions have opened apprenticeships to women in the trades, and you might
contact the national organizations. You might contact school guidance officials
to see who is coming to their schools and who recruits young women. Some
technical trade schools are trying very hard to attract women and are not
succeeding. You might what are their methods used in trying to attract young
women. Some of these programs are 18 month, post secondary programs with
starting salaries in the high twenties to thirties and yet women are not
attracted to these programs. You might talk to schools and find out what
kinds of positions young women are being placed if they are involved in
on the job training. I think you'll find that most young women are placed
in secretarial or other office positions. You might ask why that is.
Strategy 3
You might want to check out the following websites. Many include databases
with articles and information on gender and school to work programs.
ERIC Digests (www.ericdigests.org/eric-digests.html). Short reports on topics of prime current interest in education targeted specifically to teachers, administrators, policy makers, and other practitioners, and yet useful to the broad educational community.
National Center for Research
in Vocational Education (NCRVE) (ncrve.berkeley.edu). The nation's
largest center for research and development in work-related education.
AskERIC (www.askeric.org).
Site includes full text lesson plans, education research, studies, conferences
papers, hot topics, InfoGuide, listserv archives, current journal articles,
and more. AskERIC also offers an online interface to the ERIC database,
the world's largest collection of education related materials.
Martha's Gender
Equity In Education Page (girltech.cs.rice.edu/Participants/mborrow/GenderEquity/gendsite.html). Provides valuable resources, including a book list pertaining to math, science, and technology education. Also includes links to lessons and other gender equity sites.
MULTI-CULTURAL SERVICES (www.edcc.edu/equity/). A regional resource center focused on promoting gender equity and cultural diversity in education, business, and the community. Includes STW Mentoring Project Network, promoting Equity in STW Legislation, activities of the NW Center for Equity, instructional resources, and links.
Institute for Women in Trades,
Technology & Science (IWITTS) (www.serve.com/iwitts) Provides
training and technical assistance nationally to the education system. Includes
STW and gender equity through projects like the "Women and Girls in
Science, Engineering and Math: School-To-Work Project."
Women's Educational Equity
Act Resource Center (www2.edc.org/WomensEquity). The site for the
national Women's Educational Equity Act Resource Center. Works to improve
educational, social, and economic outcomes for women and girls. The site
offers information on publications, articles, a Gender Equity Expert Panel,
grantee information and links to Web and other resources. | 
