Some
Social Goals of Ethiopian Adolescents: An Aspirational Perspective
Habtegiorgis
Berhane Getahun
Abstract:
Aspirations are believed to account, to a large extent, for high levels of
success in academic, material, social, political and psychological achievements
of individuals. This study examines the aspirations of Ethiopian adolescents. A
questionnaire which contains occupational choice, marriage and family life and
future activities of adolescents was administered to 239 (117 males and 122
females) subjects under conditions of anonymity. It was found that to be an
electrician or electrical engineer was ranked first as an ideal vocation;
opportunity for further training and good remuneration were ranked first and
second respectively as valued conditions of future jobs; sharing one's own
opinions and beliefs was regarded as the most important character of a good
spouse and was ranked first. Female subjects indicated that they expected to
marry earlier than male subjects; female adolescents (90.8%) responded that both
the wife and the husband should be equally influential in the direction and
control of family affairs; adolescents of 'high' income families wanted to have
earlier marriage than adolescents of "average" income families;
adolescents of
"average" income families wanted to have fewer children;
adolescents of
"high" income families wished to bring up their children as
they were brought up. Adolescents who rated themselves as "good"
academically felt in general more enthusiastic and hopeful, never felt in doubt,
and were determined.