Opinions of high school students on the impact of gender roles on professional choice

The research is a qualitative study that tries to determine high school students' perceptions of whether gender roles affect their career choices and, if so, how they affect them. In this study, "Phenomenology", one of the qualitative research designs, was used. To achieve the purpose of the research, the study group consisted of a total of 100 students studying in various types of high schools in Hendek, Adapazarı, Serdivan and Akyazı districts of Sakarya province in the 2021-2022 academic year, according to maximum diversity sampling techniques, one of the purposeful sampling methods. A semi-structured interview form prepared by the researcher was used as a data collection tool in the study. This form consists of four sections: demographic information, educational information, questions about career preference, career preference and gender. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and student opinions were frequently included. As a result of the findings obtained in the research, it was determined that the thoughts and perceptions of the students participating in the research about gender were parallel to traditional gender roles and this effect also emerged in their career choices. Male students want to take part in a profession where they can earn a high salary and have a career, while female students want to take part in a profession that will not interfere with their domestic responsibilities and especially their motherhood responsibilities. The students participating in the research think that they can be more successful and easily employed in professional groups that identify with the roles of men and women in working life. It has been revealed that a sexist attitude in family guidance is a determining factor in students' high school type and career choice. Although they studied in different types of high schools, had different socioeconomic levels and resided in different districts, the students' opinions and thoughts remained within the same frameworks and boundaries and explained their career choices with traditional gender perceptions.