Women in secondary technical vocational education: Factors that influence their educational and work trajectories

Abstract

This paper discusses the factors that affect the educational and work trajectories of women who studied Secondary technical vocational education courses in the La Araucanía Region of Chile. A total of 12 women who graduated between 2013 and 2017 were interviewed; six of them studied specialties that are traditional for women and six were trained in highly maledominated sectors. Our research, of a qualitative nature, leads us to question the concept of 'choice', since admission to this educational modality is strongly conditioned by economic and mobility factors. In the stage of selecting a specialty, it becomes apparent that there are subjective factors that motivate women to insert themselves into traditionally femaledominated areas or, instead, to challenge the gender mandates reproduced by some teachers or family members. After completing their secondary vocational and training education, the women often experience sexism and sexual harassment when engaging in internship programs, which, in some cases, generates disaffection towards male-dominated jobs. The decision to continue an educational project, to enter the working world, or to make both compatible, is mediated by socioeconomic restrictions, by maternity, and by the lack of family support networks. In summary, class, gender, geographic origin, and other variables intersect to condition the educational and professional trajectories of women.