Addressing deceptive distinctions: A comparison of the occupational requirements of military personnel and elementary school teachers

Abstract

In the analysis of expected behaviors and personal attributes, emphasis has been on differences between men and women, often failing to address "deceptive distinctions†of occupational requirements. Based on
mean comparisons of six variables from two gender ideology scales by equal numbers of men and women across different occupations (military personnel; elementary school teachers), a number of significant of differences were noted within gender, that follow occupational expectations. Ultimately, both men and women adhere to occupational expectations, while still continuing to "‘do gender†especially when the behaviors do not contradict requirements of the job.