The Career Ladder and the Baby Cradle: College Seniors, Gender, and Work-Family Issues Open Access

Abstract

Abstract
The Career Ladder and the Baby Cradle: College Seniors, Gender, and Work-Family Issues
By Betsie Garner
In 1979 Gloria Steinem reflected on her interactions with college students: "I've yet to be on a
campus where most women weren't worrying about some aspect of combining marriage,
children, and a career. I've yet to find one where many men were worrying about the same
thing" (Steinem 1979, 232). In an effort to measure the degree to which today's college students
resemble those Steinem observed, I explore the future work and family plans of current college
seniors and their attitudes toward gender and work-family balance. I conducted 20 in-depth
interviews with students on issues regarding career aspirations, family plans, and work-family
conflict. This paper presents major themes and concepts related to gender difference among
college men and women. I discuss the study's implications and thereby extend theories on the
gendered nature of work and family by offering evidence of gendered attitudes toward
negotiating work and family conflicts at the college stage before individuals have even begun
working or forming families.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………… 1

Research Questions………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Theoretical Framework…………………………………………………………………………… 3

Empirical Work……………………………………………………………………………………… 11

Hypotheses……………………………………………………………………………………………. 16

Methods………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17

Findings………………………………………………………………………………………………… 20

Implications and Discussion…………………………………………………………………. 66

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………… 70

Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………………… 75

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Sociology
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Sociology, Individual and Family Studies Sociology, General
Keyword	family gender college students work
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Scott, Tracy L, Emory University
Committee Members	Franzosi, Roberto, Emory University Ristaino, Christine, Emory University

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