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 Guidance Community Discussion Space :: helping build careers
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Weblog | 122 entries | 08-July-2008 | 36 authors |
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Are Careers Advisers to blame for gender stereotypical career choices in young people?
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Blog Entry | 1 reply | 27-April-2006 | Lucy Marris |
At the 2005 ICG Annual conference in Bristol, Sir Digby Jones (CBI Director-General) seemed to imply that careers advisers don't challenge gender stereotyping enough - was this fair comment?
Speaking at the Institute of Career Guidance Annual Conference in Bristol (2005), CBI Director-General Sir Digby Jones said: 'Ninety-seven per cent of those taking apprenticeships in childcare are women, but only one per cent of construction apprentices are female. Business and young people need careers advisers to help challenge rather than reinforce these kind of gender stereotypes. We just can't afford a careers advice system that is stuck in a 1970s timewarp' It seems to me unlikely that Careers Advisers alone are responsible for gender segregation in the world of work. If we were sufficiently influential to bring about social change and greater equality simply through conducting guidance interviews that would be great! However, recently it seems that Careers Advisers are being blamed for societal problems and inequalities that are way beyond our control. Perhaps it is a good thing if careers work is seen as being that significant, but on the other hand, how can we defend our services under attack, and more importantly, what are we doing to help overcome, in this instance, gender inequalities? If you have some examples of good practice and initiatives that you are involved in then why not share them here? |
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Gender Equality through Careers Guidance | Discussion Topic | 0 replies | 11-July-2006 | Lucy Marris |
Institute of Career Guidance positional paper on Gender Equality - a response to accusations that career gudiance steers individuals into gender stereotypical jobs.
The Institute of Career Guidance is the largest professional association of career guidance practitioners in the UK. The 3200+ members of the Institute work in all sectors of the career guidance field – schools, colleges, Careers Services, the voluntary sector, Connexions, nextsteps, universities, adult guidance agencies, learndirect etc. In recent years, some significant reports examining various aspects of gender equality and occupational segregation in the labour market have emphasised the key role of career guidance in steering individuals into stereotypical gendered jobs. Yet research evidence highlights how a number of influences affect career choice, with career guidance being just one that shapes career decisions. It is therefore both inaccurate and misleading for career guidance to be blamed for the failure to break down the multiple barriers that need to be overcome by individuals wishing to enter non-traditional occupations. In terms of responding to the comments of Digby Jones the ICG positional paper on Gender Equality Through Careers Guidance is of real help! |
