Gender Differences in Occupational Orientations of Soviet Immigrant Students

Occupational orientations of 154 young Soviet immigrants to Israel were studied. It was hypothesized that among young people socialized in Soviet society there would be fewer gender differences in vocational choices and occupational values than in Western society. However, significant gender differences were found in both variables, consistent with the stereotypical pattern documented in Western societies. Although these findings could suggest that sex role stereotyping is of psychological origin, sociological-cultural and developmental explanations are offered.