A Longitudinal Study on the Professional Development Process of Gifted Women in Midlife

This longitudinal study revisits 18 gifted female high school graduates (ages 43–56 in 2024) from fields including mathematics, Chinese language, music, arts, and dance to explore their career development. It identified four developmental stages: exploration (before 30), foundation-building (30–40), diversification (40–50), and self-fulfillment (after 50). Women in artistic fields experienced more varied career paths, while those in academic fields followed linear trajectories. Challenges such as interpersonal conflicts and ideal-reality gaps were overcome with positivity and support. The study suggests enhancing interpersonal and leadership skills in gifted education, offering diverse career counseling for artists, and increasing family and government support to address the career impact of caregiving.