Socialization, Stratification and Occupational Choice

This post examines how socialization into a social class and economic class impact the individual as they enter the professional workforce and the subsequent upward or downward economic mobility.  It will attempt to show that the socialization process acts similar to an ocean current carrying the individual in a general direction.  However, it will also show that just as a swimmer can swim against the current to arrive at his desired destination, individuals exerting sufficient force against the influences of their socialization can alter their destination.

Socialization is the process by which the values, norms, and taboos of society are taught and reinforced to members of a society.  Our socialization takes on many facets as we are socialized into our peer group, family, school, and social class.  Our social class refers to the stratification within society separating societal members by their prestige, perceived power and social standing.

Society’s stratification into social classes is not a set of discreet, well defined social groups, rather it is a gradient of social characteristics adapted by various groups that are most noticeable when compared across distant groups along that gradient.  The socialization process that inculcates the values and norms of where we are along that gradient shapes our vision of who we are, our self-perceived potential, and the opportunities we think are available to us.  As we enter the work force, our occupational choice is shaped by these social forces.  As a part of a cooperative effort between representatives of the disciplines of sociology, psychology, and economics said the following about the effects of this socialization while describing why a recent college graduate would not pursue his ideal job for which he had trained and was qualified: “Occupational choice is restricted by lack of knowledge about existing opportunities...Variations in knowledge, in rationality, and in discrimination between alternatives constitute, therefore, the limiting conditions within which individuals choose occupations by arriving at a compromise between their preferences and expectancies.  This compromise is continually modified up to the time of actual entry... (Blau et. al., 535)”

An example of the above can be illustrative.  The three sons of a widowed German immigrant are taught to work with their hands all through their youth.  They are exposed to carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanics, teamsters, etc.  Upon entering the work force, the oldest becomes a diesel mechanic and the youngest becomes a truck driver—each working for an employer.  None of the sons were taught to value education beyond high school, so none achieved a college degree.  The middle son suffered from emphysema throughout his life and realized his inability to maintain a traditional job, so he decided to buy his own trucks and start his own trucking firm.  His socialization had included working hard but did not include the concept of entrepreneurial spirit necessary to be successful as a business owner.  He excelled and failed several times, was taken advantage of by a business partner but in the end, before his death, became mildly successful with his trucking firm.  His son however, having been socialized within the home of an entrepreneur, took over the business left by his father and expanded it into a $20 million annual enterprise.

In the above example, the oldest and youngest sons each continued within the framework of their socialization and were successful in their chosen occupations.  The middle son, due to his ill health, was forced to depart from the socialization of his youth to become an entrepreneur.  Since his breaking away from what he had been socialized to become was recognized as being due to health so he faced no sanctions for his departure.  However, in the film we concluded today in class, there can be huge social pressures when one attempts to climb above the social class or economic class one inherited from their parents.  The sanctions of guilt and rejection are common when attempting to move away from the social or economic class we inherit.

The shift away from the socialization of our youth can be accomplished but only by exerting great personal effort which demands courage and stamina.  So the real questionis why do we sanction those attempting to improve themselves beyond their inherited status? 

References

Blau, Peter M., Gustad, John W., Jessor, Richard, Parnes, Herbert S., Wilcock, Richard C. “Occupational Choice: A Conceptual Framework.”  Industrial and Labor Relations Review 9.4 (1956): 531-543