Trends in Educational and Occupational Aspirations of High School Males: Black-White Comparisons

Abstract

Educational and occupational aspirations are examined in two cohorts of Virginia high school seniors. White collar aspirations decline from 1967 to 1976 while plans for college enrollment remain stable. For a subset of school districts in which student race can be identified, white collar aspirations and college plans drop for white males in 1976. No change is foundfor black males. A loglinear analysis of the association of aspirations, race and father's education indicates that the relationship of race to aspirations changes from 1967 to 1976 while the relationship offather's education to student's aspirations remains stable.