GENDER AND MATURITY FOR PROFESSIONAL CHOICE

In contemporary Brazilian society, most people who seek professional guidance are in adolescence, a period marked by intense biopsychosocial transformations. Adolescents generally present themselves at a delicate moment in their personal trajectory and may present greater or lesser maturity to make their occupational choice. In view of these considerations, the present study aimed to discuss the influence of gender on the professional maturity of adolescents. To complement this discussion, some initial data from a study involving 100 high school students (of both genders) from public and private schools located in Minas Gerais/Brazil will be presented. For data collection, a questionnaire developed specifically for this study and the Maturity Scale for Professional Choice (EMEP) were used. The results showed that there is a significant difference in some dimensions of maturity for professional choice according to the respondent's gender. Female participants were more responsible and independent, as they reported being less influenced by other people's opinions to make this decision. However, male subjects showed greater knowledge of the educational and economic reality of the job market. The results obtained may serve as subsidies for the construction of more effective interventions in professional guidance, which aim to stimulate the development of maturity in the process of professional choice.