Reconceptualising Career Success for Males in Two Female-dominated Occupations: A Case Study of Primary School Teaching and University Administration

Understanding the impact of occupational context on the career success of males and females, and the availability of opportunities, is relevant to modern career research (Lawrence & Tolbert, 2007). However, literature linking context, success and interventions is limited. As a result, this case study sought to explore how males in two female-dominated occupations define and achieve career success. A qualitative methodology enabled a critique of general assumptions about male success as a result of complex themes of personal, professional, social and life success that emerged. It is argued that these themes of success may help organisations to design and implement career interventions to promote self-management of careers. Moreover, this reconceptualisation of success provides new valuable evidence to further theory and practice and inform organisations of how employees define and achieve success.