Career patterns and career satisfaction of women and men in Poland in years 1990-2010

This study aims to identify the career patterns of Polish women (345) and men (305) and to compare their professional and life satisfaction. Career events serve as a basis for identifying three career dimensions: stability, vertical mobility and continuity. Cluster analysis revealed three female and three male career patterns. The most frequently pursued career for women and men is a conventional pattern. Women` careers is characterized by less continuity, mobility, and stability than men's. The results show that the schema of the traditional social role is more often revealed regardless of gender, while the non-traditional schema of social role is revealed in mobile careers of women. Women pursuing discontinuous careers, and men pursuing unstable careers are significantly less satisfied with career than people with a mobile career. Women are the most satisfied with a career typical of traditional male career, which includes no brake in career, job stability and promotions. Men's satisfaction with life depends on their career while women are satisfied regardless of the career pattern.