Vocation or imposition

This paper focuses on investigating whether career choice is influenced by a variety of factors that may make it a social imposition, or whether it is based on an intrinsic vocation, paying particular attention to the role that gender plays in this process. Social work and its feminization are explored in order to understand how gender may influence men and women in this profession and in all other professions. The research findings reveal the existence of differential socialization from an early age, which generates a linkage to social expectations, thus influencing professional choices that are based on gender stereotypes. Also, it has been revealed that in female-dominated professions, such as social work, men tend to experience greater professional development, highlighting, once again, the disparities in gender roles.