Cover Image
QR Code

ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS: A Reexamination of the Bases for Social Class Differences in the Occupational Orientations of Male High School Students.

Two possible attitudinal bases for social class differences in the occupational goals of male high school students are contrasted: (1) evaluation of the occupational structure and (2) perceived accessibility of desired occupations. Data are presented which provide firm evidence that perception of li...

Full description

Published in:Sociology & Social Research Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 465 - 476
Main Authors: Caro, Francis G., Pihlblad, C. Terence
Format: Article
Published: University of Southern California Jul1965
Subjects:
Social classes
Social status
High school students
Occupations
Occupational achievement
Work values
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:Two possible attitudinal bases for social class differences in the occupational goals of male high school students are contrasted: (1) evaluation of the occupational structure and (2) perceived accessibility of desired occupations. Data are presented which provide firm evidence that perception of limited access to high prestige adult occupations accounts, at least in part, for the relatively modest occupational orientations of lower class students. The findings provide no grounds for either accepting or rejecting the differential evaluation hypothesis. Academic aptitude is considered as a factor mediating class differences in occupational achievement.