Succeeding against the odds: An examination of familial influences on the career development of professional African American women

In spite of racism, African American women have pursued career goals, entered the workplace, and maintained successful careers. This persistence by African American Women can be connected theoretically to several phenomena - the most notable being the family experience. The purpose of this study was to describe how 14 African American women in the midpoint of their careers perceived their family's influence on their career development. Consensual qualitative research (C. E. Hill, B. J. Thompson, & E. Nutt-Williams, 1997) as used to analyze the interview reponses of these women. The most salient variables related to career development included family emphasis on education, relationships with family members, and family's social and economic resources. Other variables that shaped the career development of this sample included family gender role socialization and values toward work.