MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS‐ROLE PERCEPTIONS AND CAREER PATTERNS

The claim that a belief in the compatibility of teaching with marriage acts as an incentive to women to choose this career received some support from the findings of the study described. The majority of the respondents also saw their work role as subsidiary to their domestic role, with the domestic demands being accorded first priority. Part‐time teaching opportunities were welcomed, with almost two‐thirds of the ex‐teachers hoping to return on a part‐time basis. Opinions on the use of nursery provision varied considerably; those respondents exhibiting the greatest willingness to return to teaching expressed significantly greater approval of nurseries. A considerable range of opinions emerged on wives and mothers going out to work, despite the fact that the husbands were extremely tolerant on this matter. Inter‐generational differences may provide one source of such variations; investigation of socio‐economic background and initial reasons for entering teaching as other possible sources proved inconclusive. The majority of the respondents were following or intending to follow the career pattern described by Gavron, though some did so with reluctance.

Notes

Formerly at the departmenet of Sociology, University of Hull

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Notes on contributors

Angela Shepherd ¹

Formerly at the departmenet of Sociology, University of Hull