Influences Affecting Career/Life Planning Aspirations as Perceived by Intellectually-Gifted, Ethnically-Diverse Adolescent Girls: A Case Study
type: CreativeWork
description: With the exception of a few Asian-American women, there continues to be fewer women from ethnically-diverse cultures in high status careers. Yet little is known about the specific variables which affect the life planning and future aspirations of young, gifted black, Hispanic and Pan/Asian women. Studies conducted and reported have focused primarily on white, middle-class adolescents or college students. The importance of this study is the addition to the sparse amount of existing literature related to the influences affecting the future life planning of the intellectually-gifted, ethnically-diverse, adolescent female. The purpose of this case study was to examine and assess cultural influences as transmitted by the parents and community and as perceived by the intellectually-gifted black, Pan/Asian and Hispanic-American adolescent female. The seven questions designed to guide this research included an exploration of the girls' perceptions of the parent-daughter relationship, the extent of the parent-daughter interaction relative to career choice, whether career goals were clearly defined, the girl's perception of herself and her ability to pursue a career commensurate with her ability, and other influences perceived by the girl as affecting career choice/future life planning. The sample consisted of fourteen black, twenty Hispanic, and seventeen Pan/Asian-American girls attending seventh or eighth grade in San Diego County. Quantitative data were obtained through a fifty-one item questionnaire designed by the researcher. Qualitative data were obtained through group interviews with 20 percent of the sample population. Statistical treatment of the data were completed through chi-square analysis of selected questionnaire items. Interview responses were discussed qualitatively and a composite of the black, Hispanic and Pan/Asian-American sample subjects was drawn. Findings of the study included: 1) the girls had high occupational aspirations but career goals were not c…
abstract: With the exception of a few Asian-American women, there continues to be fewer women from ethnically-diverse cultures in high status careers. Yet little is known about the specific variables which affect the life planning and future aspirations of young, gifted black, Hispanic and Pan/Asian women. Studies conducted and reported have focused primarily on white, middle-class adolescents or college students. The importance of this study is the addition to the sparse amount of existing literature related to the influences affecting the future life planning of the intellectually-gifted, ethnically-diverse, adolescent female. The purpose of this case study was to examine and assess cultural influences as transmitted by the parents and community and as perceived by the intellectually-gifted black, Pan/Asian and Hispanic-American adolescent female. The seven questions designed to guide this research included an exploration of the girls' perceptions of the parent-daughter relationship, the extent of the parent-daughter interaction relative to career choice, whether career goals were clearly defined, the girl's perception of herself and her ability to pursue a career commensurate with her ability, and other influences perceived by the girl as affecting career choice/future life planning. The sample consisted of fourteen black, twenty Hispanic, and seventeen Pan/Asian-American girls attending seventh or eighth grade in San Diego County. Quantitative data were obtained through a fifty-one item questionnaire designed by the researcher. Qualitative data were obtained through group interviews with 20 percent of the sample population. Statistical treatment of the data were completed through chi-square analysis of selected questionnaire items. Interview responses were discussed qualitatively and a composite of the black, Hispanic and Pan/Asian-American sample subjects was drawn. Findings of the study included: 1) the girls had high occupational aspirations but career goals were not c…
author: Warren, Marian H., EdD
keywords: adolescents, career planning, case study, ethnically-diverse, future life planning, girls, intellectually-gifted, minority & ethnic groups, Leadership Studies
date published: 1986-08-01T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:41:35Z
provider: University of San Diego
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of San Diego