Gender and Work Values: A Comparative Analysis

• Published in: The Journal of social psychology Vol. 134; no. 2; pp. 201 - 212
• Main Author: Elizur, Dov
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Taylor & Francis Group 01.04.1994; Heldref; Clark University Press; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Business Administration Education; Career Choice; Cluster analysis; Comparative Analysis; Computers; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Cultural Differences; Educational Attainment; Employment; Feedback; Female; Female employees; Females; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender differences; Gender Identity; Humans; Hungarian; Hungary; Hypotheses; Interpersonal Relationship; Israel; Job Satisfaction; Male; Males; Motivation. Job satisfaction. Attitude; Multivariate Analysis; Netherlands; Occupational psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Questionnaires; Recognition (Achievement); Sex Differences; Sexes; Social research; Social Values; Structural Analysis (Linguistics); Structural Analysis (Science); Supervisors; Value Orientations; Values; Women; Work Attitudes; Work Values; Working conditions; Working Hours; Netherlands; Israel; Hungary; Asia; Europe; Human; Crosscultural study; Attitude; Interindividual comparison; Sex; Value; Labour
• ISSN: 0022-4545; 1940-1183
• DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1994.9711383

The results of recent investigations on work values suggest that the contradictory findings in regard to gender differences may be rooted in variations in the underlying structure of the work-values domain. In the present study a definitional framework for work values was proposed and tested. Smallest space analysis (SSA; Guttman, 1968) was performed on the ratings of 24 work-value items by samples of men and women from Hungary, Israel, and the Netherlands. A double-ordered conceptual system, a radex structure, was obtained in each of the samples, reflecting two hypothesized facets: modality of outcome (cognitive, affective, and instrumental) and type of system performance contingency. Essentially the same structure was obtained for women and men. However, women ranked affective outcomes as well as some of the instrumental and cognitive values higher than men did, whereas men ranked some other cognitive (influence, independence, responsibility) and instrumental (pay) items higher than women did. Personal growth and use of abilities were ranked higher by men in some samples and by women in others.