Susan Weinger

Opportunities for career success: Views of poor and middle-class children

Abstract As income inequality intensifies in our country and further entrenches a class structure, it is especially important to know how children view their chances for career success. Two studies, one involving middle-class child respondents and the other poor child respondents, explored their views about career opportunities and choices available for themselves and each other. Projective techniques employing photographs of houses representing different family income levels were used to stimulate their uncensored responses. Comparison of these two studies shows that both middle-class and poor respondents perceived a class structure that is powerfully determinative of career success. They expect middle-class children to obtain more lucrative and prestigious careers compared to poor children, though sometimes they express different views regarding the reasons for this difference in achievement. The author discusses the childrens sometimes distressing adaptations and accommodations to their world, and proposes strategies to increase childrens empowerment, hopefulness and sense of inclusion.

When Dreams Wither and Resources Fail: The Social-Support Systems of Poor Single Mothers

Recent political decisions to redesign the welfare system compels single mothers to work. With concern for the women and children so effected, this qualitative study explores the views of 42 poor single mothers regarding (1) their aspirations and dreams in relation to work and (2) the helpfulness of their social support networks in enabling them to make transitions to work or to study. Analysis was performed on both the sample as a whole and on subgroups of respondents who were divided by work category, e.g. employed fulltime, employed part-time, women who were students and full-time mothers. Developing meaningful subgroupings of single mothers may help avoid the dangers inherent in lumping all single mothers into a large and potentially inaccurate category.

Children's perceptions of class differences : Worries and self-perceptions

Abstract This qualitative study explores middle- and low-income childrens perspectives about the worries and self-perceptions of children from different socioeconomic groups. Projective techniques utilizing photographs of houses representing different income levels were used to interview 24 children between the ages of 5 and 14 in each of the two income categories. Respondents generally expected the poor child to worry about lifes harsh realities, while the worries of the middle-class child would reflect the normal vulnerabilities of childhood. Furthermore, respondents anticipated that self-worth rose along with childrens socioeconomic status.