Social Justice and Career Development Practices
Dr. Nancy ArthurDr. Nancy Arthur
University of CalgaryUniversity of [email protected]@ucalgary.ca
Dr. Sandra CollinsDr. Sandra Collins
Athabasca UniversityAthabasca [email protected]@athabascau.ca
Outline Heather What is social justice? Issues for counselling practice Culture-infused counselling Ethics notes Research (preliminary data) Perceived barriers Vignettes
Heather
A single mother of three children aged 2, 5, & 7
Need to work two jobs
Experiences financial hardship (low SES)
Was diagnosed with depression
Has a history of family violence
What is Social Justice?
Brainstorm the words that come to mind when you think about
social justice
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)If the people involved are not equal,
they will not receive equal shares.
Concerned with political distributive justice
People got the goods they deserved, not necessarily those they needed
People were not viewed as being equal
Hobbes (1588 - 1679)Every man against every man, this is also consequent; that nothing can be
unjust.
Viewed humans as antisocial and driven by basic instincts
A just society needs to be governed by the state
State will create laws to preserve the peace and to restrain individuals
Marx (1818 - 1883) When people receive what they need based on their humanity and not on
their social class, social justice will be achieved.
Opposition to Hobbes
Stressed social equality
People are defined by social relationships
Rawls (1971)Social justice implies that persons have
an obligation to be active and productive participants in the life of
society and that society has a duty to enable them to participate in this way.
Concerned with distributive justice and equality
Synthesis between liberalism and socialism
Bell (1997)
“. . . full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society in which the distribution of resources is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure” (p.3).
Young (1990)
“Justice should refer not only to distribution, but also to the
institutional conditions necessary for the development and exercise of
individual capacities and collective communication and cooperation. Under this conception of justice,
injustice refers primarily to two forms of disabling constraints, oppression
and domination” (p.39).
It’s More Than Resources
Social justice as “the elimination of institutionalized domination and oppression” (Young, 1990)
Beyond mere distribution of benefits
Valuing self-development and self-determination for everyone.
Counselling Notes
Influence on development of client issues
Impediments to personal development
How client issues are defined
Off track, on track = whose track? What resources are made available to
whom What interventions are chosen
Recent Observations
Instruments of the status quo
Contributing to cultural oppression
Recognition of cultural impact of oppression vs. active stance
Coping model vs. changing sources of oppression
Was Heather served well?
Social Justice Activities
Involve advocacy related interventions that address issues of self-determination, social responsibility, and the equitable distribution of opportunities and resources in our society.
“Helping clients challenge institutional and social barriers that impede academic, career or personal-social development” (Lee, 1998).
Culture-Infused Counselling(Arthur & Collins, 2005)
The conscious and purposeful infusing of cultural awareness and sensitivity into all aspects of the counselling process and other roles assumed by the counsellor.
Cultural awareness of selfCultural awareness of otherCulturally-sensitive working alliance
Culture and Social Justice
History consistently links social injustices to cultural characteristics of members of non-dominant groups.
Nationality, ethnicity, gender, language, sexual orientation, class, ability, and so on.
The perpetuation of “difference” is fundamental to the maintenance of “privilege”.
Culture and Counselling
Culture is defined broadly
Culture is both visible and invisible
All counselling is multicultural in nature
Culture has the potential to affect all aspects of the counselling process
Infusing cultural awareness (of self and other) optimizes client satisfaction
Counselling and Social Justice
Applying a lens of social justice optimizes client success and changes the conditions that create client distress
Examine social structures beneath and around people that perpetuate power differences and make an effort to ameliorate social inequities
What is the point and purpose of counselling if it cannot deal with fundamental issues of injustice that adversely impact clients?
Let’s Talk About Power Examine power disparities
Explore external influences
How we frame client concerns
Introduce social justice themes
But what if clients don’t bring it up?
Responsibilities for addressing oppression, privilege, social resources
Levels of Intervention Individual and group
Coaching clients
Acting on behalf of client
Advocacy for groups
Organizational change
Social and systemic change
Designing programs
The Challenge…
If counsellors are not prepared to address social justice…
How can we expect clients to advocate on their own behalf?
Research Notes Diversity and Social Justice Competencies
of Career Development Practitioners Canada and Australia What is social justice? What competencies support social
justice? Gaps = importance of social justice vs.
current level of social justice competencies
Practice examples Barriers to social justice activities
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) www.socialjusticeresearch.ca
86 participants so far:
80% from Canada, 20% from Australia
86% women
4% reported experiencing a physical disability and 3% a cognitive / psychological disability
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data)
0
20
40
60
80
Age Ethnicity Gender Language Religion SES
Forms of Discrimination Experienced
51.1
20.9
62.7
17.4 18.6 20.9
Perc
en
tag
e
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data)
0
20
40
60
80
Very
Unfamiliar
SU Undecided SF Very
Familiar
Familiarity with Social Justice
6.5
21.0
5.2
52.6
Perc
en
tag
e
14.4
Defining Social JusticeWhat it is….
“Social justice as it relates to career practice
would be assisting and empowering those who
may have been, or are, discriminated against,
for example, based on religion, race, sexual
orientation, gender etc, to be able to enter the
workforce equipped to deal with and/or
overcome the affects thereof. Also,
advocating on behalf of clients to assist them
in reaching their fullest potential and
enhancing their socioeconomic status. ”
Defining Social JusticeWhat it is….
“Social justice is ensuring that no one is discriminated against and that opportunities and justice are equal for everyone. This should include fairness and honesty with immigrants before they leave the country, accountability and support when immigrants arrive (language training, assistance with credential recognition, assistance with navigating professional associations), assistance with job search, fair treatment from employers at interviews and on the work place, and a work environment that promotes a culture of learning supported financially and in policy.”
Defining Social Justice: The dilemma…
“… Career practitioners often face ethical dilemmas such as whether or when to become an advocate. In other words, for example, do we counsel the worker with a physical impairment to avoid applying for jobs where he might encounter prejudice, or do we advocate for employment on his behalf? Do we advocate on his behalf, or teach him how to represent himself?”
Defining Social Justice…
“I am very unfamiliar”
“I'm afraid since I do not know enough about social justice, I am uncertain how it would relate to the career practice”
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Asked to share their perspective
on the importance of social justice to career development practice generally
Asked to share the degree to which they personally felt competent
5-point scale from ‘very low’ to ‘very high’
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Attitudes related to social justice
Importance of social justice: Rated highest: ‘Believe in the equal
worth of all people’ (M=4.89)
Rated lowest: ‘Recognize the impact of discrimination on career development based on religion’ (M=4.16)
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Attitudes related to social justice
Competence level:
Rated highest: ‘Believe in the equal worth of all people’ (M=4.29)
Rated lowest: ‘Believe that career development practitioners have a role to play within broader social, economic, and political systems’ (M=3.20)
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Attitudes related to social justice
Paired t-tests > all stat. significant
Importance of social justice: ‘moderately high’ to ‘very high’
Competence level: ‘average’ to ‘moderately high’
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Attitudes related to social justice
Correlations > all stat. significant except for one:
‘Believe that career development practitioners have a role to play within organizations’
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Knowledge related to social justice Importance of social justice:
Rated highest: ‘ Explain how SES might impact career decision-making’ (M=4.60)
Rated lowest: ‘Explain potential ethical dilemmas involved in intervening directly to facilitate change in the external factors affecting clients’ career development’ (M=4.09)
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Knowledge related to social
justice
Competence level: Rated highest: ‘Explain how gender
might impact career decision-making’ (M=4.02)
Rated lowest: ‘Describe how to effectively evaluate social justice interventions’ (M=3.08)
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Knowledge related to social
justice
Paired t-tests > all stat. significant
Importance of social justice:
‘moderately high’ to ‘very high’
Competence level: ‘average’
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Knowledge related to social justice
Correlations > many stat. significant except: ‘Describe how to facilitate change in
communities, organizations, and broader social, economic and political systems’
‘List goals that may apply for clients who are experiencing social injustices’
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Skills related to social justice
Importance of social justice: Rated highest: ‘Identify individual
client strengths that help them cope with the effects of oppression’ (M=4.87)
Rated lowest: ‘Mobilize media to promote awareness of social injustices’ (M=3.98)
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Skills related to social justice
Competence level: Rated highest: ‘Identify individual
client strengths that help them cope with the effects of oppression’ (M=3.96)
Rated lowest: ‘Implement interventions that target social, economic, and political systems by lobbying for change in legislation’ (M=2.51)
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Skills related to social justice
Paired t-tests > all stat. significant
Importance of social justice: ‘average’ to ‘very high’
Competence level: ‘moderately low’ to ‘average’
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Skills related to social justice Correlations: 44% not stat. significant:
‘Encourage other career development practitioners to examine social justice issues’
‘Encourage professional organizations to advocate for social justice’
‘Conduct evaluations to demonstrate the efficacy of social justice interventions in career development practice’
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data)
0
20
40
60
80
SQ $ Int. Infl. Time Tng Support Fund J ob
Barriers Identified by Participants
30.6
69.3
8.1
57.1
69.3
36.7
Perc
en
tag
e
30.6 28.524.4
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Critical incidents that went well
A holistic and a collaborative approach Recruitment of community support Practitioners as advocates Time, efforts, determination, and persistence Meeting clients are their level Acceptance of client issues Strong therapeutic alliance Respect Cultural understanding Time to assess; time for follow-up
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) A critical incident that did not go well
Lack of fund and resources Culture clash Lack of community support Lack of understanding within the community Lack of cultural knowledge Lack of accessibility to programs - long wait
lists Government policies Limited therapeutic alliance
Social Justice and Career Development Survey (Prelim.
Data) Preliminary conclusions:
Career practitioners’ perspective on the importance of social justice to career development is higher than their perceived competence level
Career practitioners’ knowledge and skills tend to be solely focused on client needs even though their attitudes are broader
Career practitioners appear to be disempowered in regards to advancing the social justice agenda
Questions?
Comments?