Women no less ambitious than men, Dutch study finds

Nov 12, 2009, 10:20 GMT

Amsterdam - Women are not less ambitious than men, according to study in the Netherlands.

The study, carried out by a team of researchers from the Radboud University in Nijmegen and Research en Beleid, a public policy research bureau, said women find it just as important as men to develop themselves personally and professionally.

However, the study found, women are more focused on content and depth, while men concentrate on 'hierarchical growth' and salary.

Women are also more prepared than men to give up professional ambition if it jeopardises family life. The researchers said this could possibly be explained because Dutch women also want to perform well within the family context.

Around 75 per cent of Dutch women work; 70 per cent of working women do so in part-time positions, one of the highest percentages in Europe.

The first academic study about women's professional ambitions was commissioned by the Taskforce Part Time Plus, a government- established committee founded in April 2008 and aimed at stimulating women to increase the number of work hours.

A report by the Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP) said two out of 10 women would be prepared to work more, but no more than two hours extra. The SCP advises the government on public policy.