Professionally Successful Women: Some Evidence from the English-Speaking Caribbean

• Published in: Canadian journal of Latin American and Caribbean studies Vol. 32; no. 64; pp. 121 - 154
• Main Authors: Punnett, Betty Jane, Nurse, Lawrence, Duffy, Jo Ann, Fox, Suzy, Gregory, Ann, Lituchy, Terri, Monserrat, Silvia Inés, Olivas-Luján, Miguel R., Santos, Neusa Maria Bastos F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kingston Routledge 01.01.2007; Canadian Association of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Association Canadienne des études Latino-Américaines et Caraïbes; Taylor & Francis Group LLC; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Barbados; Business and professional women; Business success; Caribbean; Caribbean region; Caribbean studies; College students; Comparative analysis; Cultural Values; Culture; Demographic aspects; Economic aspects; English; English language; Gender; Gender equality; Human capital; Jamaica; Locus of control; Men; Mentoring; Occupational achievement; Personality traits; Politics; Professional Women; Psychometrics; Respondents; Self efficacy; Self-sufficiency; Social aspects; Social conditions; Social Dynamics; Social Support; Students; Success; Women; Women's employment; Working women; Jamaica; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Barbados; St Vincent & the Grenadines
• ISSN: 0826-3663; 2333-1461
• DOI: 10.1080/08263663.2007.10816929

This article reports on a study of professionally successful women in three countries in the English-speaking Caribbean-Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The study is part of a larger study that includes countries throughout the Americas. The overall objective of the study was to identify personal and social characteristics of professionally successful women, and to consider these across nations, by incorporating cultural measures. The study uses both quantitative and qualitative measures. Results suggested that, as hypothesized, professionally successful women scored higher on need for achievement, internal locus of control, and self-efficacy than did a comparative student group. Contrary to expectations, mentoring was not identified as especially important in achieving success, but family support was identified as important. On the cultural variables, successful women and the comparative student group scored similarly-moderate on collectivism/individualism, low on power distance, and high on uncertainty avoidance. The similarities and differences across the three countries included in the study are discussed.