CAREER CHOICE AMONG BLACK PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN SELECTED NONTRADITIONAL CAREERS (ENGINEERING, MEDICINE, SCIENCE)

Black women are underrepresented and underutilized in science, engineering, and medicine. This exploratory study was developed to identify the factors affecting career choice of Black professional women in selected nontraditional careers in a large Southwestern urban center. Because this research was an initial attempt to explain this phenomenon, the method chosen was exploratory rather than a verification of theoretical hypotheses.;The data were obtained through a one hour and fifteen minute audio-tape recorded interview and a personal data questionnaire.;In identifying factors affecting their career choice, most of the Black professional women identified an influential person, belief, or circumstance. All of the participants held the belief that education was important. Among the doctors and the nurses, parents were the most influential persons, whereas, among the scientists/engineers math instructors were the most influential persons. The influential circumstance varied among the participants. Scientists/engineers credited innate abilities, whereas, the doctors and the nurses credited being in the career atmosphere or environment.;The impact of counselors on the career choice of Black professional women in science/engineering and medicine was found to be negligible.;The major objective of this study was to document the factors affecting the career development of Black professional women scientists, engineers, and doctors (selected nontraditional careers) and to compare these experiences with those of Black professional women nurses (a selected traditional career). The results of this study may influence understanding career choice among Black professional women in science, engineering, and medicine.