ASSESSING GENDER-BASED CIRCUMSCRIPTION OF OCCUPATIONAL ASPIRATIONS

The circumscription and compromise theory of vocational aspirations dr aws attention to the possibility that many adolescents may unnecessari ly limit their vocational options. This article describes key elements of the theory, particularly its emphasis on children's perceptions of occupational sextype, and the changes the theory requires in how to c onceptualize and assess vocational aspirations. It also describes a th eory based Mapping Vocational Challenges(1) (MVC; Lapan, Loehr-Lapan, & Tupper, 1995) activity that helps adolescents map and discuss the be liefs and background factors that can lead them to rule out careers th ey might actually find interesting and perform well.