Socioeconomic Status and the Career Aspirations and Perceptions of Women Seniors in High School

Abstract

w e have long recognized that occupational choice is influenced by socioeconomic status (SES) or, for youth in particular, status of the family. Bogie [3], working with high school seniors, concluded that SES was a strong predictor of the discrepancy between an individual's career aspirations and career selection. The higher an individual's SES was, the less discrepancy one foresaw between career aspirations and attainment. Previous surveys among both adults and youths have identified a positive relationship between SES and individual educational and occupational potential. In a survey of adult men, Duncan [5] reported that SES had an independent effect on individual educational achievement. Both Blau and Duncan [2] and Duncan and Featherman [6] have shown a strong positive correlation between family SES and one's occupational aspirations and attainment.Sewell, Haller, and Straus's [9] surveying of high school seniors showed a positive relationship between SES and educational and occupational aspirations of young women. In a later study, Sewell and Shaw [lo] concluded that, for women, SES had a greater effect than intelligence on selection of, attendance in, and graduation from college. Empey [7], in a study on male high school seniors, concluded that individuals from high SES family situations had higher occupational aspirations than those from lower SES families. He pointed to a positive relationship between SES and future vocational decisions.

Socioeconomic Status and Occupational Aspirations of High School Seniors in Nigeria

“…Although this study is admittedly limited by it5 use of a small sample, it does provide some useful results. Perhaps the most interesting finding is the significant relationship between SES and occupational aspiration-a finding in agreement with several investigations that have been conducted in the United States (Bogie, 1976;Empey, 1956;Krippner, 1963;McLaughlin et al, 1976 's (1976) study, this study also shows that students with high SES have a high occupational aspiration level. It departs, however, from Bogie's findings, in that more students with low SES aspire to medium-level occupations.…”

“…T h e article suggests ways by which counselors can help students who are less privileged.Several researchers have long recognized that occupational aspiration is influenced by socioeconomic status (SES) and that for high school students in particular, the background of their families is especially important. McLaughlin, Hunt, and Montgomery (1976) found that SES affects the occupational and educational aspirations of fetnale high school seniors, a finding in agreement with Empey's (1956) study on males. Krippner (1 963) studied students' occupational preferences and their parents' occupational levels using Roe's (1956) occupational scale and found that the occupations students liked to enter were related to the status of their parents' occupational level.Bogie (1976), working with high school seniors, found that SES was a strong predictor of the discrepancy between an individual's occupational aspirations and selection; that is, the higher an individual's SES was, the less discrepancy one foresaw between occupational aspirations and attainment.…”

“…Several researchers have long recognized that occupational aspiration is influenced by socioeconomic status (SES) and that for high school students in particular, the background of their families is especially important. McLaughlin, Hunt, and Montgomery (1976) found that SES affects the occupational and educational aspirations of fetnale high school seniors, a finding in agreement with Empey's (1956) study on males. Krippner (1 963) studied students' occupational preferences and their parents' occupational levels using Roe's (1956) occupational scale and found that the occupations students liked to enter were related to the status of their parents' occupational level.…”

“…The selection of the variables and hence the content validity is similar to Bogie (1976) and McLaughlin et al (1976). The weights gave equal importance to parents' occupation, parents' education, and average family income.…”

Women's Career Aspirations and Achievements

“…One line of studies analyzes women students' aspirations and documents their increasing preference for work (Tangri, 1972;Osipow, 1975;Parelius, 1975;McLaughlin et al, 1976;Brito and Jusenius, 1978;O'Donnell and Anderson, 1978). One line of studies analyzes women students' aspirations and documents their increasing preference for work (Tangri, 1972;Osipow, 1975;Parelius, 1975;McLaughlin et al, 1976;Brito and Jusenius, 1978;O'Donnell and Anderson, 1978).…”