11
Indeed, only fathers’ professional job status remains significant within the full model, while the combination of
individual and peer factors account for the majority of the explained variance within the model. Males’ attainment of
a college degree, in a similar fashion to that shown in the comparable model for females, is again a strong predictor
of their choice of a professional job (b = 2.05). However, the influence of peers is again evident, as males whose
friends place more value upon negative-oriented activities are less likely to have a professional job. On the other
hand, males who have friends who are planning to attend college are significantly more likely to selection a
professional occupation. Ultimately, it would appear that males, as compared to females, are more readily affected
by peers and peer relations, at least in terms of their choice of occupational paths.
Discussion and Conclusion
This study was initiated with the goal of examining the relative impact of family and individual
characteristics on the occupational attainment of young adult women and men. While previous research has
demonstrated a salient link between familial context and children’s status aspirations, few had attempted to examine
the associations between family context characteristics and the eventual status outcomes of young adults. These
analyses attempted to compare the relative impact of family and individual characteristics as a function of gender.
While previous research has shown substantial associations between familial characteristics and children’s
educational performance, these results demonstrate that the impact of family context extends beyond academic
achievements, and has meaningful effects upon the eventual occupational attainment of young adults.
Bronfenbrenner and Ceci (1994: 576) posit that “Environmental contexts influence proximal processes and
developmental outcomes not only in terms of the resources they make available, but also in terms of the degree to
which they provide stability and consistency over time that proximal processes require for their proper functioning.”
Many of the differences between women and men found in these analyses are readily recognized as being grounded
in the cultural and socioeconomic variations which exist in the respective life experiences of daughters and sons. It
is readily apparent that gender remains a meaningful determinant of both educational and occupational status
attainment. While it is safe to assume that parents will provide all of their children with love, nurturance, and
support, irrespective of sex, the eventual status attainments of boys and girls are substantially different so as to
Convention