This project supports the dissertation research of an anthropology student studying gender relations in Sweden. Although Swedish society has outstanding laws on the books dealing with gender egalitarianism in the workplace, Swedish society remains strikingly segregated by gender in fact. The student will interview female students, professionals at the beginnings of their careers, and mature professionals about life- history experiences that influenced them to choose their professions. The student will also interview parents, friends, spouses, teachers, and other relevant individuals to try to understand the reasons why women choose their occupations. This research is important because government policies often mandate egalitarian social outcomes that are not achieved in practice. Understanding the non-governmental causes of gender segregation in a society that has the most advanced laws known in the industrialized world can help planners devise programs to attain the goal of equal opportunity.
