Becoming Job-Ready

Abstract

This article examined the future plans constructed by Latina adolescent girls and their mothers within a lower income urban community. Seventeen high school juniors and their mothers were interviewed about the girls’ pursuit of a trade during high school and anticipated postsecondary pathways in the nursing field. Thematic content analyses illustrated how families selected and invested in this career pathway together. Trades were viewed as providing access to jobs and financial stability. Mothers and daughters alike anticipated that the workplace would facilitate access to college, and they also described a closer connection to nursing trade preparation than to math or science academic classes. Case illustrations highlighted the importance of family involvement, ethnic background, and socioeconomic status in the construction of college plans. Interventions and future research focused on families and positive educational outcomes for Latina adolescent girls are discussed.

Keywords

career development family involvement work Hispanic or Latino families intersection of class,gender,and racial-ethnic background postsecondary transition

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