Results: This survey is about a somewhat humorous yet satirical answer to the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Published on 08/22/2023
I grew up in the 1950s in an environment quite different from the norm. Both parents worked and my mother was the breadwinner. The principal/headmaster of my school was female (rare at the time) I had an aunt who was an airline pilot (she ferried planes to where they were needed) and my view of suitable roles for women in the workforce was non traditional. Societal norms however were more restrictive.. Which of the following career aspirations which might have been acceptable and desirable in the 1950s could result in heated debate in this day and age.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
I am in my 70s now and still can't answer the leading question. Here are some career choices that some boys could have chosen back in the 1950s (based on TV shows I watched at the time). Some only existed in TV land and some would no longer be popular. If you were a boy in the late 1950s which choice(s) would you pick. What would you add to the list?
A doctor who could seemingly try experimental procedures and medications without the risk of malpractice claims.
15%
323 votes
The President of The United States (Or Prime Minister of Canada)
8%
175 votes
A lawyer who put bad guys in jail provided he didn't shoot them first
15%
311 votes
A pilot flying fighter jets, airline jets, helicopters or propeller driven planes (in order of preference).
18%
369 votes
Other (please specify)
3%
53 votes
Not Applicable
56%
1169 votes
- An athlete. After an argument with parents, perhaps a pirate or circus performer.A
- Draft dodging
- Engineer
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.89% | 11 | |
| police officer | 0.16% | 2 |
| Veterinarian | 0.16% | 2 |
| a Teacher | 0.16% | 2 |
| Teacher | 0.16% | 2 |
| Navy | 0.16% | 2 |
| policeman | 0.16% | 2 |
| Pharmacist | 0.08% | 1 |
| a hillbilly who struck oil and moved to Cali. | 0.08% | 1 |
| I always had a fscination for rails, so I wanted to be a street car driver...(seriously) | 0.08% | 1 |
| Chemist | 0.08% | 1 |
| sports announcer | 0.08% | 1 |
| Happy & Well adjusted | 0.08% | 1 |
| dentist | 0.08% | 1 |
| Professional baseball player | 0.08% | 1 |
| An amazing and very imaginative and creative artist. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Fireman, Teacher | 0.08% | 1 |
| Anything | 0.08% | 1 |
| I am in my 70's and I don't know either. | 0.08% | 1 |
| gymnast! | 0.08% | 1 |
| NHL hockey player | 0.08% | 1 |
| Rock star | 0.08% | 1 |
| Mechanic | 0.08% | 1 |
| Fisherman, farmer, carpenter, lumberjack, mason. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Goldsmith | 0.08% | 1 |
| As a teenager in the 50's, I can't recall aspiring to any occumaption. I just went on to university and went wherever that took me. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Superhero | 0.08% | 1 |
| Steel Worker, Farmer, Rancher, Police Officer, Ambulance Driver | 0.08% | 1 |
| Running a saw mill | 0.08% | 1 |
| Train Engineer | 0.08% | 1 |
| Don’t know. I am not a boy. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Engineer | 0.08% | 1 |
| Gas station attendant | 0.08% | 1 |
| race care driver | 0.08% | 1 |
| Teacher or farmer. | 0.08% | 1 |
| veterinarian, restauraneur, college professor, minister | 0.08% | 1 |
| nurse | 0.08% | 1 |
2.
2.
Here are some career choices that some girls could have chosen back in the 1950s. Some no longer exist and some are no longer as popular. If you were a girl in the late 1950s which choice(s) would you pick. What would you add to the list?
A stewardess (only if you don't get married).
17%
363 votes
A nurse who was required to cover up the mistakes made by Dr Cavalier and save the patient
11%
231 votes
The First Lady
9%
190 votes
A legal secretary to a lawyer of the Perry Mason type. She must have a voice two octaves lower than normal like Barbara Hale who played Della Street on the above show.
22%
468 votes
Other (please specify)
3%
62 votes
Not Applicable
50%
1052 votes
- A nun
- Pole dancer
- Teacher
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| TEACHER | 1.07% | 14 |
| 0.76% | 10 | |
| A teacher | 0.15% | 2 |
| Anything that did not require me to have a man as a boss and paid well and was intellectually stimulating. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Secretary or teacher | 0.08% | 1 |
| nurse who cared for patients | 0.08% | 1 |
| Accountant | 0.08% | 1 |
| Artist/designer | 0.08% | 1 |
| Architect | 0.08% | 1 |
| College professor | 0.08% | 1 |
| Happy & Well adjusted | 0.08% | 1 |
| Scientist | 0.08% | 1 |
| A singing nun | 0.08% | 1 |
| Interior decorator | 0.08% | 1 |
| Social Worker | 0.08% | 1 |
| An artist | 0.08% | 1 |
| Mother | 0.08% | 1 |
| Anything | 0.08% | 1 |
| A lawyer | 0.08% | 1 |
| a genie | 0.08% | 1 |
| A social worker | 0.08% | 1 |
| Lawyer | 0.08% | 1 |
| teacher, actress | 0.08% | 1 |
| book editing/reviewing | 0.08% | 1 |
| Teachers | 0.08% | 1 |
| actress | 0.08% | 1 |
| Wonder Woman | 0.08% | 1 |
| Vet | 0.08% | 1 |
| an apparel designer | 0.08% | 1 |
| Homemaker, teacher | 0.08% | 1 |
| President of the United States | 0.08% | 1 |
| Exotic Dancer | 0.08% | 1 |
| Helping farmers with the livestock | 0.08% | 1 |
| A Spiritual / Energy Healer | 0.08% | 1 |
| beautician so I could talk | 0.08% | 1 |
| A doctor | 0.08% | 1 |
| Baker | 0.08% | 1 |
| A cop | 0.08% | 1 |
| Veterinarian | 0.08% | 1 |
3.
3.
By the 1970s things had changed in career aspirations thanks in part to "the pill" which gave women the opportunity to plan if and when to have children and if within or outside of marriage. Males could have the same aspirations as before with one notable inclusion. Here are also some careers women could now aspire to. Which do you think were improvements?
A singer in a rock-n-roll band. (male or female)
25%
517 votes
Professional athlete (if female the sport must be tennis)
22%
463 votes
Model (BMI must be 25% less than normal)
13%
263 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
38 votes
Not Applicable
47%
982 votes
Bank manager (must be prepared to become a divorcee - from personal experience)
19%
404 votes
- Almost everything provided men don't get in the way.
- Long distance truck driving
- I don't know.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.83% | 14 | |
| Lawyer | 0.12% | 2 |
| Police | 0.06% | 1 |
| an engineer or a farmer | 0.06% | 1 |
| None | 0.06% | 1 |
| truck driver heavy equipment operator | 0.06% | 1 |
| Professional and married | 0.06% | 1 |
| Judge | 0.06% | 1 |
| Accounting clerk | 0.06% | 1 |
| professional business person | 0.06% | 1 |
| Car Mechanic | 0.06% | 1 |
| Just about any career is now open to women. | 0.06% | 1 |
| department manager in a bank.....but not a branch | 0.06% | 1 |
| Teacher | 0.06% | 1 |
| Pretty much anything she wanted | 0.06% | 1 |
| Lawyer. | 0.06% | 1 |
| Pro Victim | 0.06% | 1 |
| Y | 0.06% | 1 |
| doctor, lawyer | 0.06% | 1 |
| Police officer | 0.06% | 1 |
| Professional...at any carreer of their choice! | 0.06% | 1 |
| Waitress | 0.06% | 1 |
| teacher, secretary | 0.06% | 1 |
| Computer operator. | 0.06% | 1 |
4.
4.
I asked my granddaughter (aged 11) "the question" the other day and here are some of the career options she mentioned. Which ones are more attractive choices now than when I was her age in the late 1950s. Add one of your own in "other"
Police detective
28%
583 votes
Veterinarian
32%
668 votes
Soccer player
12%
250 votes
Author of books for children
22%
459 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
38 votes
Not Applicable
40%
831 votes
- If the female is also a visible minority she will get the job
- The woman, so the company won't get sued.
- The man. He is supposedly the family bread winner.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.50% | 10 | |
| Nurse | 0.15% | 3 |
| Psychologist | 0.10% | 2 |
| Architect | 0.05% | 1 |
| Pastor or chaplain | 0.05% | 1 |
| Florist | 0.05% | 1 |
| space alien | 0.05% | 1 |
| coach, teacher | 0.05% | 1 |
| Judge | 0.05% | 1 |
| None - all were available in the 50s. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Astronaut, scientist, computer specialist, investment manager, artist, a really good Mom with both family and personal aspirations fulfilled instead of one or the other. | 0.05% | 1 |
| All, except men's sports. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Author of books for adults in a wide variety of genres | 0.05% | 1 |
| Executive assistant | 0.05% | 1 |
| Basketball players | 0.05% | 1 |
| Lawyer | 0.05% | 1 |
| Captain of industry | 0.05% | 1 |
| horse trainer | 0.05% | 1 |
| Astronaut, engineer, pastor, mechanic | 0.05% | 1 |
| A career in anything. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Taxidermist, Funeral Director | 0.05% | 1 |
| CEO | 0.05% | 1 |
| Teacher, doctor etc. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Y | 0.05% | 1 |
| Social Worker | 0.05% | 1 |
| politician, professional athlete, newscaster | 0.05% | 1 |
COMMENTS