The Social Status of Occupations: A Problem in Vocational Guidance

Abstract

The object of the investigation here reported was twofold. In the first place, the writer was interested in obtaining information with regard to the social standing of the teaching profession. He was especially desirous of getting from high-school students some estimate of the status of this calling. In recent years much has been said and written regarding the altered condition of the teacher and the lowered prestige of those to whom society delegates the educational function. Many have assumed that the point has been reached in the degradation of the profession where one is justified in feeling some embarrassment if found within its ranks. In the second place, the writer wished to direct attention toward an important problem in vocational guidance which is seldom squarely faced. In all that has been written on occupations there is a tendency to disregard the fundamental question of social status. Detailed information has been gathered with respect to the financial remuneration, security, and hazards of occupations, but the question of social rating is ordinarily dismissed with the statement that a particular calling is highly respectable. These careful studies of the objective aspects of occupations are highly commendable, but the less tangible characteristics of vocational life should not be disregarded. It is even debatable that these characteristics are in peculiar need of examination. In order to throw some light on this question of status, fortyfive occupations were selected for study. These occupations were chosen more or less at random from the entire vocational range and were submitted to various groups of persons to be ranked according to their social standing. The list of occupations selected and the instructions for ranking them are as follows: