The Effect Of Social Class Stereotype Threat On Career And Future Income Expectation

This study focused on the effects of social class stereotype threat on career and future income expectation and it also determines the relationship between the social class stereotype threat, future career and income expectation. We conducted a door to door survey using:stereotype threat vulnerability scale, sense of control scale, group identity scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale and the scale of subjective social class.The520participants were Zambian citizens aging from18to70from rural and urban areas of Zambia. Preliminary analysis was conducted to make sure that the all questionnaires had a good reliability and construct validity, we proceeded to conducting a mediation analysis as hypothesized.The findings suggest that the effect of stereotype threat on career and future income is mediated by the three variables, sense of control, self-esteem and group identity. Stereotype threat would lower ones’ self-esteem and sense of control but heighten his identification with the group to which he belongs, which, in turn will lower the expectation of career and future income. It was also found that the difference in social class was significant, there was no gender difference.It recommends that the Zambian government should look into this matter by funding for more research on stereotype threat to be conducted, in this way more real perceived perceptions on stereotype threat can be brought forth. Finally, the limitations; future research and recommendations were discussed.