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Hello,

Something I have sometimes wondered about, why do some kid(s) go to the exact professions as their parents or parental figures? Is it because their parents socialized them or encouraged them to enter that field? Or because, in the case of rich parents with businesses, threatened to withhold the trust fund if they did not follow in their footsteps. I have never wanted to go down the work path my parents went down (working class retail/factory folks) and do not understand why kids or families go generations into the same profession. Thoughts?

demifeministgal 8 Apr 30
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My dad was in the Army...I never wanted to join the Army and he did not encourage me to do so. I am guessing it was because in a lot of ways, it is a hard life and my dad also knew I was quite rebellious and not one to obey orders.

My husband's parents were musical...his dad was a drum teacher and he became a drum teacher as well.

Many of my friends followed in the footsteps of their parents because it was their passion...pilots, police, firemen, nurses, doctors,farmers etc. There are some fields that are appealing because it was what they know and grew up with in a positive way. Interesting...

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I think you're right, on all accounts.. I’ve a daughter with ‘the bosses’ youngest son, the ‘black sheep’ ...with his Masters.. He’s currently ‘in the business,’ with secret plans to head off with said daughter … while older (kiss butt) brother/ son inherits the throne?

‘Trump supporters,’ this young man’s had enough.. He’d be welcomed in my home, consisting of me 🙂

Varn Level 8 Apr 30, 2019
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My Mum was a nurse, my grandma was a nursing assistant, I am a nurse lecturer. My son just started at the unit I previously commissioned and my neice is an ITU nurse. Strangely my half sister (who was brought up seperately from us) also went into a caring role. I would imagine there is some genetics, some learned behaviour and some prior knowledge. I actively discouraged my kids from entering nursing and was highly surprised that Isaac has. His big sister runs a pub and his brother is doing philosophy. Interesting

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I feel like this one has an easy explanation.

Growing up, your mom and dad, if you were fortunate enough to have both loving parents, were your idols. As children, your parents are superheroes. You want to be like them, you aspire to what they have.

Now, you grow out of it. Ask a teenager and they're more likely to claim to hate or be embarrassed by their parents, but ... that's where the passion begins. It doesn't go away with the idolization of a parent.

Obviously it doesn't happen to everyone, and I think probably happens more in specialized fields than general labor. My mom worked billing at a hospital and I never once wanted to go into that field, for instance.

hmmm well then I see the disconnect then. I want to be nothing like them and cannot remember ever wanting to. Thanks for explaining it to me. Cheers. 🙂

@demifeministgal I would like to state that I'm basing my opinion on personal observations. I'm just as likely to be wrong.

But yeah, I imagine having that positive relationship early on has something to do with it. We need a case study or something :X

@Xuande Yes. Some research for social science! 😀

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Well, one of my adult kids has grown up working in the business and learning. He feels that the renewable energy industry is a socially responsible industry to be involved in. The other wants to be on his own and do his own thing. Both responses are understandable. I just want them to be happy.

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