Black female attitudes toward career choices at Sam Houston State University

Purpose: The objective of this study were threefold: (1) to develop an attitudinal profile of black females on the campus of Sam Houston State University regarding their career choices as they relate to occupational preparations fostered by the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and the Behavioral Sciences (the INSTITUTE) a the University; (2) to determine the degree to which black coeds at Sam Houston State University identified with the Women’s Liberation Movement in pursuit of their careers; and (3) to determine the attitude of black females on Sam Houston State University’s campus regarding law enforcement as an institution and as a career choice. Methods: The methods used in this study were: (1) the identification of the number of black females enrolled at Sam Houston State University for the Spring semester of 1974; (2) the approaching of black females at key physical locations on the campus for a period of three weeks to conduct or schedule interviews; (3) the conducting of a semi-structured interview with participating students; (4) examination of all data collected by use of the data collection instrument; and (5) analyzing the collected data to develop an attitudinal profile of black females on the campus of Sam Houston State University regarding career choices as they relate to occupational preparations fostered by the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and the Behavioral Sciences. Findings: 1. The study indicates that with respect to background, black coeds sampled tend to have resided in small towns prior to entering college. 2. In addition, the data reveal that they are more often single, dormitory residents and working part-time on or off campus. 3. The respondents were more likely majoring in fields that required a high degree of social interaction on their behalf (i.e., social rehabilitation, teaching fields, speech therapy, etc.). 4. Black females sampled were significantly represented in career preparations offered by the INSTITUTE except law enforcement. 5. They reported that their choice of occupations were motivated mainly from a desire to help the black community. 6. The attitudes of respondents regarding law enforcement were significantly negative both from the standpoint of law enforcement as an institution and from the standpoint of it being considered as a career choice. 7. With respect to identification with eh Women’s Liberation Movement when choosing a career, the respondents reported a strong non-identification with this movement.