CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN CHOOSING CAREER

PATHS

INTRODUCTION
Choosing a career path is a pivotal decision that significantly impacts one’s life journey. It
involves a thoughtful process of self-discovery, exploration, and decision-making. In today’s
dynamic world, where opportunities abound and industries evolve rapidly, the task of selecting
the right career path can be both exciting and daunting.
In the journey of choosing a career path, individuals often embark on a quest to identify their
passions, strengths, and values. Self-assessment tools, career counseling, and exploration of
various industries play a crucial role in this process. Furthermore, gaining practical experience
through internships, volunteering, or part-time jobs can provide valuable insights into different
professions, helping individuals make informed decisions. Additionally, embracing a growth
mindset and being open to new experiences can lead to unexpected career paths and
opportunities for personal and professional development. Many high school seniors focus
primarily on academic achievement rather than holistic career development, leaving students to
navigate their career choices independently. Without access to guidance and support, young
women may struggle to explore diverse career paths, identify their strengths and interests, and
make informed decisions about their future.
Choosing a career path is a deeply personal and transformative journey that requires
introspection, exploration, and adaptability. By aligning one’s passions, strengths, and values
with available opportunities, individuals can carve out fulfilling and rewarding careers.
Embracing lifelong learning, seizing opportunities for growth, and staying true to oneself are key
principles that guide individuals towards success and satisfaction in their chosen career paths.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Understanding career paths is essential for individuals, organizations, and policy makers a
like. This area explores the factors influencing career choices, patterns of career progression, and
the impact of various interventions on career development.
Career choice is an important process that people go through in their lives, especially for
those who seek work satisfaction. John Holland developed a theory suggesting that careers are
determined by the interaction between personality and environment (Holland, 2017). Moreover,
research has shown that people look for environments where they can contribute using their
acquired skills and abilities and at the same time express their personalities and. Values (Holland,
2017). However, even if there are differences between these groups, the overall perceived
differences are not applicable to all individuals in each group. It can be said that although socio-
cultural factors have a significant impact on individual thinking. And organizational context,
biological differences and cognitive factors play an important role in shaping individuals’ beliefs.
Peer pressure
Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and Thesaurus (2016) Peer pressure is the
influence that other people of your own age or social class have on the way you behave. Peer
pressure means the strong influence of group especially of children, on members of that group to
behave as everyone else does. Peer pressure plays a major role in career decisiveness and
indecisiveness among adolescents (Thesaurus 2016). However, peer pressure can affect people’s
job decisions by reshaping ideas of prestigious or attractive occupations in social groups.
Work life balance concern
Work-life balance and job satisfaction are explored continuously with the realization that the
achievements of schools’ several goals and objectives, including teachers’ well being to a great
extent, are determined by a certain degree of work-life balance, and job satisfaction teachers
possess (punam,chhetri 2021). Therefore, work-life balance concern acknowledges the
significance of fulfilling job duties, meeting deadlines, and achieving career goals.
Financial
The practice of offering financial allowances to appease participants in conferences or
workshops has led to the improper allocation of crucial development resources, as well as the
emergence of social issues within communities(Qeios, 2024).Financial constraints or concerns
about the earning potential of certain careers can influence decision-making.
Academic performance.
Academic performance is also one of the factors deemed significant in choosing a career path.
In the study of Fizer (2014), students have shown to possess the ability to perform well in the
field, as shown by their good high school grade point averages. They also suggested that students
with the ability to manage heavy academic workloads tend to choose a career path that would
lead to a career demanding long years of education. Meanwhile, students who lack sufficient
intellectual aptitude may be more suitable for career fields requiring less extensive and
challenging academic work.
The research gap of this study is lack of challenges in choosing a career path is lack of
sufficient knowledge about different fields of work and possible career opportunities. Not having
a clear direction or goal in choosing a career, which can lead to in uncertainty and doubt. Lack or
lack of support from family, friends, or career counselors, which can make the selection process
difficult. Doubts about one’s own abilities, interests, and ability to adapt to specific field of
work.Lack of financial resources for education or training that may be required for some
jobs.Lack of ability or knowledge to plan an efficient career path, including defining goals and
achieving these.
THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
Social learning refers to the process through which individuals acquire new knowledge, skills,
behaviors, attitudes, and values by observing and interacting with others within their social
environment. It involves observing, imitating, and modeling the actions and behaviors of others,
as well as receiving feedback and reinforcement from social interactions.
Albert Bandura’s social learning theory suggests that observation and modeling play a primary
role in how and why people learn. Bandura’s theory goes beyond the perception of learning
being the result of direct experience with the environment. Learning, according to Bandura, can
occur simply by observing others’ behavior.
This attention can influence women’s perceptions of their capabilities and opportunities,

leading to barriers in pursuing careers outside of traditional gender roles. Additionally, attention
from peers, mentors, and society at large can impact women’s confidence, access to resources,
and advancement opportunities in male-dominated fields, further influencing their career
choices.
Retention rate serves as an important indicator for individuals when making decisions about
their career paths, it is connected because it helps them assess the factors that contribute to job
satisfaction, stability, and overall success. In the race.
Women may internalize societal expectations related to reproduction, leading to lower self-
efficacy in balancing career aspirations with family responsibilities. Socialization processes
reinforce gender norms, shaping women’s perceptions of suitable career paths. Observing the
experiences of female role models or peers navigating career and family responsibilities informs
women’s beliefs about the feasibility of pursuing certain careers.
Motivation, particularly his concept of self-efficacy, is highly relevant to the challenges faced
by women in choosing career paths. Firstly, self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their
ability to succeed in specific situations, which directly influences career decision-making.
Secondly, societal stereotypes and gender biases often undermine women’s confidence in their
capabilities, impacting their career choices. And also the lack of encouragement and support for
women in male-dominated industries contributes to feelings of inadequacy and discouragement.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
1.What are the challenges faced by females Senior high school students in choosing their career
paths in terms of:
1.1 Social aspect
1.2 Financial aspect
1.3 Emotional aspect
2. How do females senior high school students solved their challenges in choosing career path
relation to:
2.1 Social aspects
2.2 Financial aspects
2.3 Emotional aspects
3. Is there significant relationship between the challenges and the solution in choosing career
path.
4. What plan of action may be proposed to solve the challenges of Senior High School students
in choosing their career paths?
HYPOTHESIS
Ho -There is no significant relationship between the challenges faced by women in choosing
career path of Senior High School students.
Ha-There is a significant relationship between the challenges faced by women in choosing career
path of Senior High School students.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
This study focused on the exploring the Challenges Faced by Women in Choosing their Career
Paths. This research is conducted in the school year 2024-2025. This study is focused on the
different challenges that women in choosing career path facing.
 This study limited to the Senior High School students as target respondents on this study. It
will also use quantitative research method since the researchers will use survey questionnaire as
the main data gathering.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The findings of the study are expected to help determine the factors affecting the career choice
decision of women in Senior High School. In line with the main research work, this paper may
be useful to the following individuals:
Researchers. The study will enhance the critical thinking and analysis of the researchers.
Regarding research development. The findings of this study can also provide data and
information that researchers need to support or refute similar studies and enrich findings of their
studies.
Future Researchers. The study served as a reference for future research. This can be a guide for
future researchers doing research papers, and the findings can be used for additional information
they would need to improve their research related to this study. The study will also help
strengthen the conviction of schools on the need for conducting studies specifically on factors
affecting the career choice decisions of students.
Teacher. The study served as a reference for future programs for teacher development that will
better prepare students. To be senior high school-ready, the findings of the study could help them
work more effectively and efficiently.
Students. The study served as a guide in making the right career choice considering the different
factors.
Parents.The study can assist and guide their children in choosing the right course, taking into
consideration the different factors affecting career choice decisions.
Guidance Personnel. The findings of the study may have implications for the career choices of
the students; thus, providing the counselors with insights and perceptions may be helpful in
providing guidance to the students.
SCHOOL. The study of schools may have important ramifications for both society and education
in general. Schools are the main establishments in charge of giving young and teenagers a formal
education, and they are extremely important in forming the intellectual, social, and emotional
growth of the youth. Thus, knowing what makes an efficient school as well as the difficulties that
they encounter can have a significant influence on the standard of instruction that children get.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
To understand and clarify the terms used in the study, the following are hereby defined
conceptually and operationally.
CHALLENGE. The word “challenge” refers to the situation of being faced with something that
needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a
person’s ability (Cambridge 2017). In this study, challenges can manifest in various forms,
ranging from personal goals and professional endeavors to competitive events and societal
issues..
CAREER PATH. The word “career path” means the way that you progress in your work, either
in one job or in a series of jobs (Cambridge 2024). In this study, a career path refers to the
sequence of jobs, roles, positions, or professions that an individual pursues over the course of
their working life.
WOMEN.Although formerly women was sometimes regarded as demeaning and lady was the
term of courtesy, woman is the designation preferred by most modern female adults (2023
Dictionary.com, LLC). In this study, women is the demographic group under discussion: female
students.
EMPLOYMENT.Employment can also refer to the act of employing people, as in we’re working
to increase our employment of women (UNABRIDGED 2024). In this study, employment
encompasses the act of being engaged in paid work, whether full-time, part- time, temporary, or
self-employed, within a specific occupation or field.
DECISION-MAKING.Refers to the process of identifying and selecting a solution to solve a
problem (Al-Tarawneh, 2014). In this study, it refers to how students weigh their options when
making a career preference or choice.