| Abstract: | The purpose of this study was (a) to describe the nature of women's ambitions across three generations of women within families, (b) to assess the women's perceptions of factors influencing their ambitions, and (c) to determine their estimates of success in attaining their ambitions. In addition, influence of the generations upon each other and relative similarity of ambitions within families versus within generations was evaluated. Subjects were 10 women who were seniors at a large, midwestern state university, their mothers, and their maternal grandmothers. The most prevalent categories of ambitions across all generations were marriage/family, educational, and vocational. Change in women's roles and a trend toward greater economic affluence across generations had the greatest influence on ambition development and attainment. Influences of one generation on another were apparent for adjacent, but not for nonadjacent, generations. In general, women's ambitions were more similar within generations than within families. |
