Perceived Influences on Career Choices of Eleventh Graders: Sex, SES, and Ethnic Group Comparisons.

Block, Joyce; Denker, Elenor Rubin; Tittle, Carol Kehr

The project ‘Sex-Role Values and Career Decision Making’ was conducted to examine the responses of eleventh-grade high school students to sex-role-related values and to relate these responses to their educational and occupational aspirations. The concern of the present article is the influence of Sex, SES (socioeconomic status), and ethnicity on the reasons students give for their career choices. While students' responses were found to be generally similar across Sex, SES, and ethnic groups, the results indicated that females were significantly less likely than males to mention practical considerations, money, prestige, or status as elements in their career decisions, and more likely to mention helping others and personal achievement. The implications of these sex differences for sex equality in the career selection process are considered.

INFLUENCE; VOCATIONAL guidance; HIGH school students; STUDENT aspirations; VOCATIONAL interests; GENDER differences (Psychology) in adolescence; ETHNICITY; LEVEL of aspiration; ADOLESCENT psychology

Sex Roles, 1981, Vol 7, Issue 9, p895

0360-0025

Academic Journal

10.1007/BF00290973