Women Don't Really Want Lower-Paying Jobs. So Why Do We Pick the Majors That Place Us There?
Why do women select colleges that have lower earning potential ? According to a new survey, we do. Newswise.com reports that e ven when both male and female college students say they want to pursue a major with the best earnings prospects, "the majors men choose are higher paying than the majors women choose." In a new study, sociologist Natasha Quadlin of The Ohio State University found that “the logics of major choice” may lead women to select different majors from men, despite having similar preferences. “Even when women place great emphasis on earnings, other preferences may ultimately win out for them,” said Quadlin, assistant professor of sociology at Ohio State . One possible competing preference: finding a field that’s a good fit. So is that why we're teachers and nurses? But wait. We're also doctors and lawyers and fire chiefs. Quadlin surveyed 2,720 students from three higher education institutions that ...