Maturation rate, endocrine functioning and female career typicalness

We compared maturation rate and endocrine functioning according to career typicalness in a sample of 28 currently employed women. Previously reported research from which this sample was drawn had indicated less traditional sex-typing for participants in atypical careers for personal and psychological characteristics and childhood experiences. Analysis of current data pertaining to participants’ developmental history provided only limited evidence that women in nontraditional careers matured later than women in traditional occupations as hypothesized. The physicians and lawyers had a leaner body make-up than nurses and secretaries; however, no group differences were noted for other physiological measures including blood analysis for steroid values. Self-reported reproductive history data revealed group differences, with participants in typical categories marrying and bearing children at an earlier age.