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Barriers and Enablers for Career Development Among Marginalized South African Youth

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New perspectives on career counseling and guidance in Europe

Abstract

A South African case study is presented to provide insight into the career barriers and enablers of marginalized youth as well as recommendations for facilitating career decision-making processes. The systems theory framework of career development (STF) developed by Patton and McMahon was used as a conceptual guide to explore the influences affecting the career development of Grade 12 high school students at the Kayamandi township in South Africa. An in-depth qualitative analysis of participants’ perceptions was undertaken using the My System of Career Influences (MSCI) qualitative assessment measure developed by McMahon, Patton, and Watson. This instrument allows career influences to be explored at the individual, social, and environmental-societal levels. As part of the STF, a narrative approach was utilized to identify career enablers and barriers inherent in these adolescents’ career stories. This study provides a critical glimpse into the complexity of how the multitude of influences, including career enablers and barriers, can be intertwined in the context of adversity and marginalization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Anouk J. Albien & Anthony V. Naidoo

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  1. Anouk J. Albien
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  2. Anthony V. Naidoo
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Correspondence to Anouk J. Albien .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. INETOP, Conservatoire National des Arts et MĂ©tie INETOP, Paris, France

    Valérie Cohen-Scali

  2. Inst. of Psych,Geopolis 4207, University of Lausanne Inst. of Psych,Geopolis 4207, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jerome Rossier

  3. Dipartimento di Filosofia, Sociologia, Pedagogia e Psicologia Applicata, UniversitĂ  di Padova Dipartimento di Filosofia, Sociologia, Pedagogia e Psicologia Applicata, Padova, Italy

    Laura Nota

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Albien, A.J., Naidoo, A.V. (2018). Barriers and Enablers for Career Development Among Marginalized South African Youth. In: Cohen-Scali, V., Rossier, J., Nota, L. (eds) New perspectives on career counseling and guidance in Europe . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61476-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61476-2_10

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