IMAGES OF OCCUPATIONS - COMPONENTS OF GENDER AND STATUS IN OCCUPATIONAL STEREOTYPES

A multidimensional approach to occupational gender type was explored I n Study 1, participants' spontaneous images of various jobs were elici ted. The attributes generated were used to develop a job images questi onnaire employed in Study 2 on which participants rated a random sampl e of 100 occupational titles. Occupational images were primarily struc tured on two orthogonal dimensions: prestige and gender type. The mult idimensional approach to occupational gender-type was supported in tha t important gender-related occupational attributes (masculine personal ity trait requirements and analytical skills) did not load on the gend er-type factor but did load highly on the prestige factor Thus, even t hough the prestige and gender-type factors were orthogonal, specific g ender-related attributes were related to perceived occupational presti ge.