Educational-career choice: the case of women enrolled in vocational training cycles in the industrial branches of V.T.: the case of Galicia

Abstract

"Guidance for educational-career choice" is a tool with potential and diverse action possibilities, which enables the creation of new support, information and monitoring networks, capable of generating the necessary attitudinal and organizational changes to put an end to the current situation of inequality in Vocational Training. Proper delivery of guidance for choice favours understanding the need to adapt the subjects learning paths to their career goals, as well as increasing their opportunities and possibilities for employment in different sectors with educational achievements (Lozano S. y Repetto E, 2007).
This article is based on a study which, in this perspective, poses a dual purpose:

1) to promote processes of guidance and choice as a measure to improve the occupationaltraining path exploring and planning phase, without gender discrimination;

(2) to offer a new approach to redefine women profiles and professional skills. To realize such a study, information has been analysed through the triangulation of data extracted from questionnaires, interviews in depth and discussion groups. Some of the conclusions we came to, are:
· Strong influence and permanence of labour and socio-cultural stereotypes that hinde the election and/or employment of  women who decide to train and work in these sectors.
· Lack of awareness-raising and institutional interest which limits joint guidance processes and strategies to increase opportunities of access and permanence in such professional-training environments.