University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Perceptions of the working world among African American participants in a low-income job training program

Hutchinson, Paul Andrew

This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/18982

Description

Title
Perceptions of the working world among African American participants in a low-income job training program
Author(s)
Hutchinson, Paul Andrew
Issue Date
1995
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Aber, Mark S.
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Education, Educational Psychology
  • Sociology, Industrial and Labor Relations
  • Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies
Language
eng
Abstract
"Twelve low-income, African American men were interviewed two to four times each regarding their experiences and perceptions of the working world. They were 18 to 21 year-old participants in the Job Training Partnership Act program in Champaign County. Nine had great difficulty finding and keeping jobs that were satisfactory in the local economy. Most had worked in fast food restaurants and other minimum-wage settings, but remained at the margins of the workforce, with little opportunity to advance to better jobs. Most had considered military service, by recruiters interviewed for the study described rejecting all high school drop outs and over 80% of high school graduates, so that almost all men in the study did not qualify. Periods of unemployment were common, and roughly half the sample apparently dealt drugs, either instead of, or in addition to, legal work. Those who dealt drugs were typically involved in street gangs at the same time. Most who worked illegally had grown up in public housing. About half the sample felt that racial dynamics played a significant role in their workforce participation. They described encountering discrimination, as well as frequently wondering about the racial motives of white coworkers. Several of the more successful men described negative comments from other Blacks, who accused them of ""selling out,"" and they did not feel they deserved such comments. The more successful men in the sample were far more likely to emphasize racial issues than those men who were faring more poorly."
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18982
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1995 Hutchinson, Paul Andrew

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Psychology
Dissertations and Theses from the Dept. of Psychology