Decent work in terms of perceptions of gender-related career barriers and marginalization: a mediated moderator model

Decent work is conceptualized as regulations for working conditions, the provision of health and safety services, and the protection of rights and interests that align with human dignity. This comprehensive and remarkable issue is significant for many young people still in the career development process, as it enables them to actively manage their expectations. In the current study, the mediating effect of marginalization and the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between university students’ gender-related career barriers and perception of decent work were examined. 421 individuals participated in the study, of whom 307 (72.9%) were female, and 114 (27.1%) were male. ‘Future Decent Work Scale,’ ‘Gender-Related Career Barriers Scale,’ and ‘Lifetime Experiences of Marginalization Scale’ were used as data collection tools. The first finding confirmed the mediating role of marginalization in the effect of gender-related career barriers on perception of decent work. On the other hand, it was observed that gender did not have a moderating role in the relationship between gender-related career barriers and marginalization. Finally, the differences in gender between the variables were also determined. All these contribute to examining the antecedents of young people’s perception of decent work.