| Summary: | This article is based on research that examined the differences between the aspirations of females
and males in the workplace in terms of Schein‟s career anchors and enablers. The stereotype that
females only work to ensure enhanced family lifestyles remains evident in the daily life of all (Hoobler,
Lemmon & Wyane, 2014, p. 704; Mihail, 2006). Furthermore the stereotype that males‟ focus is much
more ambitious in terms of reaching the highest managerial achievement/technical/ functional
competence is regarded as a reality within society (Hoobler, Lemmon & Wyane, 2014, p. 704; Mihail,
2006). Insight into the question whether females work to live or live to work was investigated and this
article reports on the differences between females and males regarding their work life ambitions. The
data resulted from a quantitative research approach and the population consisted of 4 200 employees
within an Open Distance electronic Learning (ODeL) Higher Education Institution (HEI) in South Africa.
The focus was on the composition of a structured career conversation framework, using the original
Schein career anchors (Schein, 1978; 1990; 1996) and the three-factor career-enabler model,
developed by Grobler, Bezuidenhout and Rudolph (2014). Descriptive statistics, chi-square statistics
as well as independent t-test analysis was used to identify the differences between genders with
regard to career anchors and career enablers in different career stages.
The results of the analysis illustrated that females focus more on the autonomy/independence- and
lifestyle integration career anchors than males in the first 3 years of employment, thereafter their focus
remains more on the lifestyle integration career anchor than males. Males however focus more on the
general managerial career anchor in the first 3 years of their careers than women; and after 3 years
males‟ focus moves more to the entrepreneurial creativity career anchor. The reported differences
between females and males bring forth further research questions worthwhile investigating – the
difference between academic versus support female staff and the situation in other business
environments.
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