Aspiration Levels of and for Children: Age, Sex, Race, and Socioeconomic Correlates

Abstract

One hundred sixty-five fifth-grade and 127 first-grade children and their parents were studied to examine correlates of the child's own occupational aspirations and of his parents' aspirations for him. Parents' educational and occupational aspirations for the child were related to (a) socioeconomic status (SES); (b) race in the educational area only; and (c) sex. The children's own occupational aspirations were associated with interactions of SES with grade and sex, and of grade with sex. The correlations between the parent's educational and occupational aspirations and between the parent and child aspirations were highest for the fifth-grade children, for the white parents irrespective of SES, and for the black parents of higher SES level.