Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 20293122
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED197114 AUTHOR: Hofferth, Sandra L.
TITLE: High School, Occupational Choice, and Sex Equity.
Working Paper: 1303-02.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1980
NOTE: 195 p.; The bulk of appended materials and some
charts in the text may not reproduce well due to small
print. Revised Version of Working Paper 1303-01.
ABSTRACT: A study examined the differential effects of
experiences prior to labor force entry, primarily in high
school, on the later sex-typicality of occupations and
earnings of non-college-bound men and women. The study
analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of the
Labor Market Experiences of Young Men and Women. (These
surveys lnvolved some 5,000 young men and 5,000 young women
aged fourteen to twenty-four in 1968.) Through interviews
that were conducted annually with these respondents between
1968 and 1978, information was obtained concerning
respondent demographic characteristics, schooling and job
training, attitudes and aspirations, and school experiences
and school characteristics. Data revealed that sex-related
differences in occupational choices depend upon differences
in aspirations that predate high school entry. Schools
serve primarily to reinforce sex-typed values as well as
general and work-related values of parents and society.
Occupational training in high school does have short term
positive effects on labor force outcomes for both sexes.
However, in the long run, being in traditionally female
occupational programs is detrimental to white women. Black
women in commercial programs fare better. Recommendations
call for affirmative action for adults to provide role
models for children. (Appended survey data constitutes
approximately one-third of the report.) (MN)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Blacks-; Demography-; Educational
Background; Females-; High-Schools; Individual
Characteristics; Job-Training; Longitudinal-Studies;
Males-; National-Surveys; Nontraditional-Occupations;
Parent-Role; Racial-Differences; School-Role;
Sex-Differences; Sex Stereotypes; Surveys-; Whites-;
Work-Attitudes; Work Experience
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Career-Choice; *Employment-Patterns;
*Noncollege-Bound-Students; *Occupational-Aspiration;
*Outcomes-of-Education; *Sex-Role
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