Using data from sixty-eight interviews conducted with men and women raised in rural counties in Pennsylvania, we ask how growing up in rural settings shapes people's aspirations regarding work over three periods. We find that participants' early aspirations during their late teens were shaped by rurality, gender, and class. During the transition…

In this paper, we present a framework to examine the kinds of careers that rural disadvantaged youth would like to know about in a career guidance intervention as also related findings from two different rural disadvantaged contexts in India. Differences across gender, age group, region, and participation/non-participation in youth programmes are…

This qualitative case study explores the career and educational aspirations, college choice process, and college barriers and opportunities of 26 rural, African American high school students. Data included interviews with 26 students and 11 school staff members. Findings suggest that the students' rural context shapes aspirations. In addition,…

This article explores young people's transitions to adulthood in a rural community in Mexico. The focus is on participants' migration experiences and the premise is that migration can be understood as an alternative way of inclusion found by the rural youth which is strongly determined by individuals' agency. The article explores the role played…

Drawing on a recent national survey of rural high school students, this study investigated the relationship between social capital and educational aspirations of rural youth. Results showed that various process features of family and school social capital were important for predicting rural youths' educational aspirations beyond sociodemographic…

We know that rural young people have less access to higher education than do metropolitan youth, and that the effect of location is a much stronger influence than SES or achievement (Rothman, Hillman, McKenzie, & Marks, 2009). We also know that, based on achievement data, many rural young people, who might be expected to enrol in university,…

The purpose of this study was to explore the postsecondary educational and occupational expectations of work-bound rural youth. Three groups of work-bound youth were identified (work-bound, work-bound with future educational plans, and work-bound but unsure/undecided about postsecondary education), and each group was compared to college-bound…

In 2004, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania contracted with Pennsylvania State University to begin a longitudinal study of rural Pennsylvania school students to understand their educational and career aspirations and the factors influencing their aspirations, whether their plans change as they age and if they attain their goals. In its entirety,…

The adolescent years are often turbulent, for they signal a very important developmental period recognized across all known societies as one of transition or a rite of passage--a period that signals changes in status, responsibilities, and rights. In addition, this era is often marked by "biological, cognitive, and socioemotional…

The first part of a revised series of bibliographic listings relating to the study of occupational status projections (aspirations and expectations) of youth is presented. The original bibliographic listings were accomplished in 1966 and were updated in 1967. The current document replaces Part I of the 1967 report and contains an additional 200…

Researchers exploring aspirations of youth generally examine variables such as sex, community size, place of residence, race socioeconomic status, effect of time (age), or a combination of these. This literature review focuses on studies which examine aspirations of rural, nonfarm youth in the United States. (Author/TES)

The primary objective of this study is an analysis of the occupational projections and anticipatory occupational goal deflection of a sample of predominantly rural Louisiana high school seniors. Several findings that contradict previous research are noted. Implications of these results are discussed and suggestions for future empirical inquiry are…

Of 883 Iowa high school seniors, 60% lived in towns, 40% on farms. Both groups had a high level of congruence between educational and occupational aspirations and perceived minimal barriers to goal achievement. Farm and town students had equally diverse aspirations. (Contains 23 references.) (SK)

A study was conducted to: determine the aspirations and capabilities of rural youth in selected low-income counties in Arkansas; relate aspirations, capabilities, and the discrepancy between the two to the experience background of the youths studied; and relate the youths' occupational plans to present and projected labor market requirements. The…

The third part of a revised series of bibliographic listings relating to the study of youth status projections for residence, income, and family is presented. The original bibliographic listings were accomplished in 1966 and were updated in 1967. The current document replaces Part III of the 1967 report and contains an additional 52 listings (for…