Networks as Strategies for Social Mobility and Inclusion: Insights From Minority Career Development Programs

• In Event: 14.045 - Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: 14.045-12 - The Role of Networks and Partnerships in Education

Abstract

Higher ed. research suggests that for minorities to experience labor market transitions equal to those of whites, schools must play a more active “coordinating” role. This approach reflects a theory of mobility focused on the opportunity-generating power of institutional networks. I call this theory the qualified merit model. I use data on the market preparation and work experiences of sixty-four Black and Latino participants across four college-level career development programs to investigate the promises and limitations of the qualified merit model. I find that the model goes beyond traditional prescriptions for success—i.e. work ethic and technical ability—by addressing minorities’ unequal access to high growth fields. However, it cannot guarantee success in the midst of broader social-political forces.

Author

• Dawna Goens, Northwestern University