Circumscription, Compromise, and SelfCreation Linda Gottfredson

1
Circumscription, Compromise, and
Self-Creation(Linda Gottfredson)

• Circumscription Process of eliminating
  unacceptable occupational alternatives based
  primarily upon gender and prestige
• Guided by 5 principles
• Children capable of understanding and organizing
  complex information
• Occupational preferences reflect attempts to
  implement and enhance self-concept
• Children integrate complex distinctions among
  people (prestige) while integrating the more
  concrete phenomena (sex roles)
• Children progressively eliminate occupational
  options as self-concept complexity and clarity
  increases
• Process is gradual and not readily obvious

2
Circumscription, Compromise, and
Self-Creation(Linda Gottfredson)

• Principles operate throughout 4 cognitive stages
  which describe process
• Orientation to size and power
• Orientation to sex roles
• Orientation to social valuation
• Orientation to internal, unique self

3
Circumscription, Compromise, and
Self-Creation(Linda Gottfredson)

• Compromise Modifying occupational choices in
  light of limiting factors, whether internally or
  externally imposed
• Tolerable-effort boundary
• Tolerable-level boundary
• Tolerable-sextype boundary
• Zone of acceptable alternatives
• Self-Creation Included in circumscription
  process altering self-concept in light of
  developmental or environmental factors

4
Circumscription, Compromise, and
Self-Creation(Linda Gottfredson)

• Compromise Modifying occupational choices in
  light of limiting factors, whether internally or
  externally imposed
• Tolerable-effort boundary
• Tolerable-level boundary
• Tolerable-sextype boundary
• Zone of acceptable alternatives

5
Circumscription, Compromise, and
Self-Creation(Linda Gottfredson)
High
Psychiatrist
Surgeon
Federal Judge
Tolerable-Effort Boundary
Elementary Teacher
High School Teacher
Prestige
Real Estate Agent
Zone of Acceptable Alternatives
Nurse
Tolerable-Sextype Boundary
Receptionist
Tolerable-Level Boundary
Construction Worker
Low
Feminine
Masculine
Sextype Rating
6
Circumscription, Compromise, and
Self-Creation(Linda Gottfredson)

• Self-Creation Included in circumscription
  process altering self-concept in light of
  developmental or environmental factors