Perceived Barriers to Education and Career: Ethnic and Gender Differences☆

Abstract Vocational researchers interested in the career development of women and people of color have noted the potentially strong influence of perceived barriers in the formulation and pursuit of educational and career goals. In this study, ethnic and gender differences in perceived educational and career barriers were investigated in a sample of 1139 Mexican-American and Euro-American high school juniors and seniors. Differences in perceived barriers were assessed using MANOVA and ANOVA procedures. Results were consistent with the hypotheses, suggesting that (1) female participants anticipated more barriers than male participants; (2) Mexican-American participants anticipated more barriers than Euro-Americans; and (3) these differences were consistent within ethnic and gender groups. Implications for future research are discussed.

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