The aim of this paper is to contribute to our understanding of the gender influence on teaching choice. We analyze a large-scale national representative sample of Italian teachers. The choice to teach seems to be more a long-term pathway for women, following their personal values and interest in the intrinsic and altruistic values of teaching. Men, instead, show a more adaptable pattern of choice: chance and switching career played a relevant role in determining their ending up in teaching. 'Males in a feminized environment' present an intermediate profile, characterized by stronger constraints due to previous studies and consequent weak labor market opportunities. Our analyses support the idea that men found their pathways to gaining satisfaction from the occupation of teaching, thanks to its flexibility. This is an ambiguous result from a gender perspective: reassuring but also worrying, considering that the adaptation could contribute to the reproduction of gender inequalities within the teaching profession. © 2013 University of Rome 'La Sapienza'.

Argentin, G. (2013). Male routes to a teaching career: motivations, market constraints and gender inequalities. REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE SOCIOLOGIE, 23(2), 271-289 [10.1080/03906701.2013.804292].

Male routes to a teaching career: motivations, market constraints and gender inequalities

ARGENTIN, GIANLUCA
Primo
2013

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to contribute to our understanding of the gender influence on teaching choice. We analyze a large-scale national representative sample of Italian teachers. The choice to teach seems to be more a long-term pathway for women, following their personal values and interest in the intrinsic and altruistic values of teaching. Men, instead, show a more adaptable pattern of choice: chance and switching career played a relevant role in determining their ending up in teaching. 'Males in a feminized environment' present an intermediate profile, characterized by stronger constraints due to previous studies and consequent weak labor market opportunities. Our analyses support the idea that men found their pathways to gaining satisfaction from the occupation of teaching, thanks to its flexibility. This is an ambiguous result from a gender perspective: reassuring but also worrying, considering that the adaptation could contribute to the reproduction of gender inequalities within the teaching profession. © 2013 University of Rome 'La Sapienza'.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
gender segregation, choice to teach, teaching motivations, teacher satisfaction, teacher supply
English
2013
23
2
271
289
none
Argentin, G. (2013). Male routes to a teaching career: motivations, market constraints and gender inequalities. REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE SOCIOLOGIE, 23(2), 271-289 [10.1080/03906701.2013.804292].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/76299
Citazioni
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
Social impact