Table 2 presents the general table configuration for all the data concerning the cross-sectional study. Each table is divided into female responses and males. This allows us to control for the effects of gender on career attainments and focus only on race/ethnicity. The first two columns present the 1992 results comparing blacks and whites; the following columns present the 1997 results comparing blacks, whites, Hispanics and Asians. Statistical tests of significance are made between the comparison groups for each year.

Age. There are no significant differences between the race/ethnic groups by age. The women respondents in 1997 had a median age of 42 (Asians were 37) while men's median age ranged between 42 and 46.

Gender. Table 1 sets out the gender composition of the groups. Women constituted 50 percent of the black group; and by design, 50 percent of the white group. They constitute 36 percent of the Hispanic group and 34 percent of the Asians.

Marital Status. In 1992, we observed that a lower proportion of blacks were marred. Today this is still true among the women but about 80 percent of black males are married which is similar to the other groups. In 1992 and today, women in the race/ethnic groups have on average, one child, while men average two.

Level of education. In 1992 and today, white women were more likely to have completed a graduate degree than black women. Asian women resemble whites and Hispanic women resemble blacks in level of education attained today. Among men, today, blacks were less likely than others to have a graduate degree. We will return to consider these differences in educational preparation in Section 3 below.

Overall, the groups are similar in age; the median age is in the early to mid 40s. Blacks distinguished themselves in marital status and level of education completed as well; fewer black females are married; and fewer blacks regardless of gender have graduate degrees.