The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

The gendered nature of apprenticeship: employers’ and young people's perspectives (in special issue on apprenticeship)

The gendered nature of apprenticeship: employers’ and young people's perspectives (in special issue on apprenticeship)
The gendered nature of apprenticeship: employers’ and young people's perspectives (in special issue on apprenticeship)
Purpose Gender segregation has been a persistent feature of apprenticeship programmes in countries around the world. In the UK, the Modern Apprenticeship was launched ten years ago as the government’s flagship initiative for training new entrants in a range of occupational sectors. One of its priorities was to increase male and female participation in ‘non-traditional’ occupations, that is, those normally practiced by just one sex. However, recent figures show that the programme has failed to achieve its aim and this has prompted an investigation by the Equal Opportunities Commission. The research reported in this paper is part of this investigation.
Methodology/Approach This paper presents quantitative and qualitative evidence on the attitudes of young people (aged 14 and 15) and employers to non-traditional occupational choices. It also explores the factors affecting the decisions of young people to train in a non-traditional occupation and the recruitment decisions of employers from ‘traditional sectors’, such as engineering, the construction trades and childcare.
Findings The research provides evidence of the deeply entrenched nature of occupational stereotypes and the psychological and social barriers that have to be overcome if a more evenly balanced workforce is to be created. It also reveals that none of the institutions and organisations which act as gatekeepers between young people and employers is, as yet, taking responsibility for challenging their perceptions and decision-making processes.
Policy implications The paper concludes by highlighting the implications of the research findings stakeholders and suggesting an holistic approach to tackling gender segregation.
gender, apprenticeship, occupational stereotypes, employers, young people
0040-0912
298-311
Fuller, Alison
c6b47796-05b5-4548-b67e-2ca2f2010fef
Beck, Vanessa
96f8b6b3-6829-438a-a3d1-f7ae21dc4420
Unwin, Lorna
8203040c-b1e8-4948-bc2e-4bb2db648720
Fuller, Alison
c6b47796-05b5-4548-b67e-2ca2f2010fef
Beck, Vanessa
96f8b6b3-6829-438a-a3d1-f7ae21dc4420
Unwin, Lorna
8203040c-b1e8-4948-bc2e-4bb2db648720

Fuller, Alison, Beck, Vanessa and Unwin, Lorna (2005) The gendered nature of apprenticeship: employers’ and young people's perspectives (in special issue on apprenticeship). Education and Training, 47 (4/5), 298-311. (doi:10.1108/00400910510601887).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Purpose Gender segregation has been a persistent feature of apprenticeship programmes in countries around the world. In the UK, the Modern Apprenticeship was launched ten years ago as the government’s flagship initiative for training new entrants in a range of occupational sectors. One of its priorities was to increase male and female participation in ‘non-traditional’ occupations, that is, those normally practiced by just one sex. However, recent figures show that the programme has failed to achieve its aim and this has prompted an investigation by the Equal Opportunities Commission. The research reported in this paper is part of this investigation.
Methodology/Approach This paper presents quantitative and qualitative evidence on the attitudes of young people (aged 14 and 15) and employers to non-traditional occupational choices. It also explores the factors affecting the decisions of young people to train in a non-traditional occupation and the recruitment decisions of employers from ‘traditional sectors’, such as engineering, the construction trades and childcare.
Findings The research provides evidence of the deeply entrenched nature of occupational stereotypes and the psychological and social barriers that have to be overcome if a more evenly balanced workforce is to be created. It also reveals that none of the institutions and organisations which act as gatekeepers between young people and employers is, as yet, taking responsibility for challenging their perceptions and decision-making processes.
Policy implications The paper concludes by highlighting the implications of the research findings stakeholders and suggesting an holistic approach to tackling gender segregation.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 2005
Additional Information: Special issue edited by Erica Smith and Vikki Smith
Keywords: gender, apprenticeship, occupational stereotypes, employers, young people

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 21028
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/21028
ISSN: 0040-0912
PURE UUID: 8ed10f15-221a-4ad1-9693-fc5a3012422f

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 07 Apr 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:27

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Alison Fuller
Author: Vanessa Beck
Author: Lorna Unwin

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×