Women in Male-Dominated Career and Technical Education Programs at Community Colleges: Barriers to Participation and Success

Career and technical education (CTE) with the purpose of training individuals in job-related skills has traditionally been segregated by gender. Women continue to dominate enrollments in health care, child care, education, and cosmetology, while men dominate in agriculture, construction, and materials production. Women CTE students also experience differential outcomes from enrollment and certificate completion. Using interviews with women in traditionally male-dominated career and technical education, this study examines the experiences of women in CTE in community colleges, and concludes that women students experience a lack of emotional and institutional support and gender bias in the classroom. The female students find a success by maintaining a sense of resilience despite the discrimination. Implications of research and practice are included.