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attainment, are strong predictors of their occupational choice. Given the intertwined nature of educational and
occupational attainment, though, it bears mention that parental/family characteristics have been shown to be
substantially related to individuals’ success in both forms of status attainment. The question remains, though, as to
whether differences exist by the sex of the individual.
In the first model for males’ selection of a service or semi-skilled occupation, it is clear that parental/family
characteristics have a substantial impact upon sons’ choice of job. Higher levels of parental educational attainment
and parental desires for their child to attend college both lower the likelihood that sons will select a service or semi-
skilled occupation. Oddly, the number of siblings (family size) is positively associated with this choice, suggesting
that having more siblings will make sons more likely to choose a service or semi-skilled occupation. As was evident
in the models for daughters, a same-sex parental effect is evident, as sons are less likely to choose a service or semi-
skilled occupation when fathers are employed in a professional position (b = -.41). Within the full model (model 2),
the significant influence of siblings disappears, yet the effect of parental educational attainment, parental desire for
their child to attend college, and fathers’ professional job status remain significant. While the attainment of a 4-
year college degree reduces the likelihood that males will choose a service or semi-skilled occupation (as was shown
in the similar model for females), males differ from their female counterparts in that they appear to be more readily
influenced by peer effects. Specifically, males whose friends value more negatively-oriented activities (e.g.,
drinking, doing drugs) are more likely to choose a service or semi-skilled job (b = .17). Additionally, having more
friends who are college-bound serves to lower the probability that males will select a service or semi-skilled job.
Hence, as compared to females, males are also influenced by parental/family characteristics, yet it they also seem to
be significantly more susceptible to peer influence.
In the first model of males’ selection of a professional job, several significant parental/family effects are
shown. Sons are more likely to choose a profession when their parents have higher levels of educational attainment
(b = .31), higher household income (b = .06), and when parents desire college attendance for their child (b = .79).
Sons are also shown to be more likely to choose a professional job when their fathers occupy a professional position
(b = .31), yet this parent-child association seems to be limited to same-sex patterns. Within the full model (model 2)
for males’ selection of a professional occupation, though, much of the parental/family influence is not significant.
Convention