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Feminist orientation and job-seeking behavior among dual-career couples

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Abstract

This study examined the relationship between feminist orientation and job-seeking behavior in dual-career couples. Initial and final job-seeking decision rules were assessed, as well as choices to simulated incidents about joint job seeking. Feminist orientation was more pronounced in influencing simulated than actual job-seeking behavior. As employment possibilities in the simulations became increasingly constrained, the relationship between feminism and non-traditional behavior attenuated first among men, then among both sexes. In terms of actual behavior, feminist orientation in men, but not in women, was significantly related to the type of job-seeking strategy initially chosen. However, there was no significant relationship between feminist orientation and final job decision for either sex, probably because of situational constraints affecting the final decision.

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This study was supported in part by Biomedical Sciences Support Grant FR-RR07087 from the General Research Support Branch, Division of Research Resources, Bureau of Health Professions, Education and Manpower Training, National Institutes of Health. We would like to thank Sue Oudekerk, Sue Falsey, Betty Kaiser, and Jane St. John for their assistance in data collection, coding, and typing. The comments made by Sally Farmer Hughes and Margaret Kerr Taylor on a draft of this manuscript are also appreciated.

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Foster, M.A., Wallston, B.S. & Berger, M. Feminist orientation and job-seeking behavior among dual-career couples. Sex Roles 6, 59–65 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288361

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