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09 June 2011, 15:52

ABSTRACT for Priyanjali Shah

South Asian American Women and Career Choice: A Study of Self-Socializers

The university, parents/family, and friends/peers are the biggest factors in influencing career choice amongst young adults, with the university investing in specialized courses and counseling to prepare students for the outside world. However, as young adults progress through college, graduate, and enter the workforce, these institutions' effect is greatly reduced and young adults are left to find their own way. These individuals are known as self-socializers. Self-socialization is when individuals construct their own journey based on their own interests and curiosities, rather than following what is deemed socially acceptable by their families, universities, and communities.  

As a result of this research, the following are the major findings, focusing on influences on career choice and patterns in the career-choosing experiences of young South Asian American women.  The major factors influencing career choice amongst South Asian American female self-socializers are parents (54%), professors (31%), and the university (15%).  Upon integration of both the survey and interview data, the common factors of South Asian American female self-socializers are as follows.  While they seek personal fulfillment, they choose careers based on interest, not money.  While initial career and college choice is greatly influenced by parental expectations, as South Asian American self-socializers progress on their journey, the parental influence reduces, and fulfilling one’s interest increases.  In spite of this reduction of parental influence, personal reconciliation of one’s own interests with parental expectations is the most challenging influence for a South Asian American self-socializing women.