Correlates of Saudi Male and Female Students Work Values and Organizations Desirability

Abstract

Discrimination between males and females within labor markets is clear. Also, men’s domination of top management positions in many countries is mentioned in different research. The labor market in Saudi Arabia has special characteristics due to strict social, religious, and tribal values, which makes it of special attention. This research investigates gender disparities in terms of preferred work values, job needs, six dimensions achievement motivation (excellent, achievement via independence, acquisitiveness, expert status, peer status, and competitiveness), Rokeach values, and organizational desirability among 200 male and female (graduate and under graduate) students from eight different universities in Saudi Arabia. The research uses the independent groups’t-test to investigate gender differences significance in terms of work values, organizational desirability, job needs, Rokeach instrumental and terminal values, and six dimensions achievement motivation variables. The study also explores the correlation associating work values with demographics and six dimensions achievement motivation. It also presents the correlation relating organizations desirability with the demographics and six dimensions achievement motivation. Interestingly, both genders showed no significant differences in all values whose impact is isolated to the development of their professional careers. However, they showed clear gender-based differences regarding professional values that had effects on their personal lives. Overall, the results suggest that females prefer jobs offering them independence, reliability, job and family security while respecting traditions and societal norms. Male students seem to prefer jobs offering them prestige as well as comfortable and exciting lives. Both genders showed no differences in preferring jobs with possibilities for promotions and high status with peers and experts. We suggest that Saudi male students have higher preference for jobs with prestige, while Saudi female students have higher preference for jobs at hospitals and charity organizations. However, both genders showed no-significant differences in preferring to work in jobs with high job security (education and public institutions).