When I first started the school counseling program, I was unaware of all of the injustices that can occur in the counseling world. Taking multicultural counseling, I became aware of some of the biases that people can face in the work force and even finding a job. When it comes to career counseling for men and women, there are some similarities between them, but in some cases the differences are more important. One of the big differences is the possibility of pregnancy. “Unplanned or planned pregnancies are undoubtedly a greater problem for unwed younger women than they are for older women” (Brown, pg. 125, 2016). Other differences include inequalities in salary, sexual harassment, and various forms of discrimination, especially for minority women. One of the things that caught my attention was the time spent away from the job because of child bearing. This is something that I don’t really think about because I am a male. Not only will women sacrifice their career so their husbands can advance, but in some instances they will purposely take lower paying jobs. “It is also the case that women continue to over select lower-paying occupations in the clerical, educational, and medical areas” (Brown, pg. 125, 2016).
I think this chapter by Brown (2016) brings up a lot of good points and data. As a male counselor, it is important to disregard any stereotypes that one my have about a group of people. As the text states, traditionally women were forced to take lower paying jobs so their husbands or male counterparts could be successful. Typically, women were told to stay away from occupations that required a lot of science and math knowledge. They were also encouraged to avoid jobs that required a specific skill set like electricians or plumbers. It is important that we encourage whomever seeks our guidance to find an occupation that they enjoy and that is fulfilling.
I thought it was very interesting some of the points that Brown (2016) made about the inequalities that exist in some religious affiliations. “Career counselors need to be aware of these and other traditions and prepare themselves to deal with women whose perspective about themselves (their vocational identities) in the workplace has been limited or abridged” (Brown, pg. 125, 2016). What I find interesting is the inclusion of the Roman Catholic and other religions in the examples. Working for a Roman Catholic high school, I do not see discrimination against women, in fact, most of the people who are employed are women. It would be interesting to see more data on this topic.
In the article by Bloch (2005), a lot of attention is paid to uniqueness and self-expression. I particularly liked reading the implications for practice. Perhaps the most interesting one is number 11. “Recognize the need to feel connections - the spiritual aspect of work - and make a space for clients to discuss his in their stories or play” (Bloch, pg. 205, 2005). Quite a few times this semester we talked about how making connections can be so important in the workplace.
References
Bloch, D. P. (2005). Complexity, Chaos, and Nonlinear Dynamics: A New Perspective on Career Development Theory. The Career Development Quarterly, 53(3), 194-207.
Brown, D. (2016). Career information, career counseling, and career development (11thed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN 978-0-13-391777-2.
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