The Effects of Gender Stereotyping on the Career Aspirations of Gifted Black Adolescents

The politico-economic constraints facing black women in South Africa have fallen away with the growing emphasis on democracy and the emergence of a new Westernised, black middle class. The feminist movement, long associated with democracy, has meant that black girls and women are aware of new possibilities in terms of education, job opportunities, and social and legal status. However, patrilineal tradition still plays a cardinal role in women’s lives. The aim of this study was to explore the support systems and career aspirations of gifted black secondary school adolescents (aged 16-18). The researchers investigated whether there were gender differences in future career plans of black male and female gifted adolescents who had been given the same opportunity to realise academic potential, in the light of the far-reaching changes in South African society, and the traditional role of black women. Results suggested that the support systems of gifted black adolescents are influential in promoting their ability to achieve according to their potential irrespective of gender, although responses of girls were almost uniformly more positive than those of boys.