Critical Reflections On Career Education And Guidance: Promoting Social Justice

Critical Reflections on Career Education and Guidance Around the globe, career education and guidance is being presented as the answer to social exclusion, ensuring economic competitiveness and prosperity. The profile of career education and guidance has never been higher. Yet, current policy discussions have centred on individuals’ development of ‘self-managed’ careers within a global labour market, placing employability skills above all other concerns. This book goes beyond the rhetoric of the ‘self-managed’ career and ‘employability skills’ by exploring career education and guidance from critical and radical standpoints. The contributors question the economic underpinning that has driven social agendas, arguing that career education and guidance needs to place greater emphasis on developing socially just practices. The views expressed help to open up the debate around the impact of globalisation as consideration is given to the ways in which career professionals might actively enable, empower and promote the democratic engagement of all in the shaping of their world(s). The authors consider the issues within a range of contexts including ‘race’, gender, disability and social class. Critical Reflections on Career Education and Guidance is essential reading for students, academics, practitioners and researchers who wish to achieve a greater understanding of the contexts involved. Barrie A. Irving is Senior Visiting Research Fellow, Department for Career and Personal Development, Canterbury Christchurch University College. Beatriz Malik is Professor in Educational Guidance at the National University of Distance Education (UNED) in Madrid. Critical Reflections on Career Education and Guidance Promoting social justice within a global economy Edited by Barrie A. Irving and Beatriz Malik First published 2005 by RoutledgeFalmer 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by RoutledgeFalmer 270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” RoutledgeFalmer is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group © 2005 Barrie A. Irving and Beatriz Malik for selection and editorial matter; individual chapters, the contributors All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any f