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Summary Of Ann L. Mullen's Article On Social Background

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In Ann L. Mullen’s article on “Gender, Social Background, and the choice of College major in a liberal arts context” highlights how gender along with social status impacts the choice of college major. Mullen writes, “ Men are more likely than women to major in engineering, the physical sciences, and fields that lead to jobs with high incomes and prestige”(Mullen 292). Additionally, the article explains how women are more likely to lean towards social sciences and how these programs are tailored to encourage women into these particular fields of study. Mullen goes on to explain how “nearly 80 percent have parents with at least a bachelor degree” (Mullen 296). through these findings she confirms that men are more likely to be concerned with …show more content…

The concern to provide economically for a family plays a role in major choice as statistically certain majors tend to provide greater income than others. I decided to write a gender insight in response to this article due to its relevance in my life as a second semester sophomore. Recently, I decided on my major which was hard for me and something that had been a burden since I arrived on campus freshman year. I had talked to my parents and friends throughout the year trying to gain a better understanding on what I should do, but at the end of the day made my decision solely based off the classes that interested me the most and that I’ve enjoyed taking since I’ve been at Franklin & Marshall. I decided to become a history major, and because most people around me and my friends are business and econ majors, which at times I feel like they question my decision. Ive been asked the question many of times by my friends: “So what are you going to do with a history major?”. It feels as if they are attacking me, and only believe that business and economics are the path to take, because its typically associated with higher paying jobs following college. The significance in what my friends and peers say to me is that it correlates with Mullen’s article how

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