THE OCCUPATIONAL STEREOTYPES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN HELDBY MOTHERS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT ETHNIC-COMMUNITIES IN MIAMI

The study focuses on the occupational expectations and aspirations tha t mothers, representing 5 different ethnic groups and 2 social classes , have for their children. An intergroup perspective was adopted by co nsidering the occupational stereotypes that mothers have of the differ ent ethnic groups, and the extent to which ethnic group membership inf luences hiring decisions. The results indicate that there exist very c lear ethno-occupational stereotypes, and that these influence hiring d ecisions. However, despite wide variation in the occupational status i n the stereotypes of different ethnic groups, mothers had universally high expectations for their children. The extent to which these repres ent optimism or false hope is addressed.