From a Blue-Collar Background: Gender as a Moderator and Attitudes Towards Work and Family as a Mediator on Area of Study Choices

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Bourque, L. (2023). From a Blue-Collar Background: Gender as a Moderator and Attitudes Towards Work and Family as a Mediator on Area of Study Choices. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Many sociologists attribute inequality to social reproduction, where children repeat their parents' life situations. The influence of a parent’s social background is evident when a child chooses a major or career. However, the literature fails to address why these decisions are made. The current study examines blue-collar and white-collar backgrounds on area of study choices. Additionally, the study examines the interaction of gender and class on major choices. Furthermore, class-based attitudes are transferred to children across generations, influencing their future decisions. The study also examines class-based attitudes as a mediator in the moderated relationship. Finally, cultural capital is transmitted through classes by exhibiting behaviors in conjunction with or against the dominant cultural code. The study examines cultural capital as an additional mediator. Using data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002, I ran mediated-moderated, multinomial logistic regression models. In general, parental background does not predict major choices. However, interaction effects show that blue-collar women are more likely than white-collar women to choose Health. Alternatively, gender has a significant effect on every major choice, with men being more likely to choose STEM/Engineering majors over any other. Neither class-based attitudes nor cultural capital mediated the relationship. These results have implications for social reproduction, sociology, and education scholars.

Details
Author

Bourque, Leah

Title

From a Blue-Collar Background: Gender as a Moderator and Attitudes Towards Work and Family as a Mediator on Area of Study Choices

Physical Description

1 online resource (75 pages) : PDF

Date

2023

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Many sociologists attribute inequality to social reproduction, where children repeat their parents' life situations. The influence of a parent’s social background is evident when a child chooses a major or career. However, the literature fails to address why these decisions are made. The current study examines blue-collar and white-collar backgrounds on area of study choices. Additionally, the study examines the interaction of gender and class on major choices. Furthermore, class-based attitudes are transferred to children across generations, influencing their future decisions. The study also examines class-based attitudes as a mediator in the moderated relationship. Finally, cultural capital is transmitted through classes by exhibiting behaviors in conjunction with or against the dominant cultural code. The study examines cultural capital as an additional mediator. Using data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002, I ran mediated-moderated, multinomial logistic regression models. In general, parental background does not predict major choices. However, interaction effects show that blue-collar women are more likely than white-collar women to choose Health. Alternatively, gender has a significant effect on every major choice, with men being more likely to choose STEM/Engineering majors over any other. Neither class-based attitudes nor cultural capital mediated the relationship. These results have implications for social reproduction, sociology, and education scholars.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Sociology
Educational sociology
Education

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Area Of Study Choices
Attitudes
Cultural Capital
Parental Background
Social Reproduction

Subject Area

Sociology

Advisor(s)

Kronberg, Anne-Kathrin

Committee Members

Tonidandel, Scott
Mickelson, Roslyn

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2023.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Bourque_uncc_0694N_13451

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:3302