Occupational and Educational Goals and Expectations: The Effects of Race and Sex

The effect of race and sex on the discrepancy between educational as well as occupational goals and expectations is examined among a sample of 812 urban college youth from a mixed social class back-ground. Contrary to expectations, race-sex characteristics do not affect mobility discrepancies. However, when level of aspiration is controlled, differences do emerge among high occupational aspirers, those aiming to be executives or major professionals. Black and particularly black males reveal the least discrepancy. It is suggested that women are not convinced that the opportunity structure is open to them. Moreover, race/sex differences in level of aspiration, along with the importance of this variable in explaining goals-expec-tation discrepancy, suggest that the effects of discriminatory prac-tices operate through the mechanism of limiting the educational and occupational objectives which young people set for themselves. INTRODUCTION: THE RESEARCH PROBLEM