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Between a rock and a hard place: career guidance practitioner resistance and the construction of professional identity

  • Fiona Douglas
Article
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Abstract

Increased state intervention regarding the objectives and outcomes of career guidance leaves some practitioners deeply unhappy at the increased control this exerts over their work. In this article, I argue that practitioners are subject to the power and influence of the state’s economic and welfare agendas that are contrary to their preferred position of person-centred helping. Foucault argued that power cannot exist without resistance, yet those who identify with having a profession have few spaces for dissent. They express resistance through adherence to personal values. Strengthening the role of the professional body may provide them with a voice that needs to be heard.

Keywords

Professional identity Foucault Resistance 

Résumé

Entre le marteau et l’enclume: la résistance et la construction de l’identité professionnelle. L’accroissement de l’intervention de l’Etat concernant les objectifs et les résultats de l’orientation de carrière laisse certains praticiens profondément mécontents face au contrôle accru que cela exerce sur leur travail. Cet article soutient que les praticiens sont soumis à la puissance et l’influence des programmes économiques et sociaux de l’État qui sont contraires à leur position préférée d’aide centrée sur la personne. Foucault affirme que le pouvoir ne peut exister sans résistance, et pourtant ceux qui s’identifient à une profession n’ont que peu d’espace pour débattre. Ils expriment une résistance à travers l’adhésion à des valeurs personnelles. Renforcer le rôle de l’association professionnelle peut leur fournir une voix qui a besoin d’être entendue.

Zusammenfassung

In der Zwickmühle: Widerstand und die Konstruktion einer beruflichen Identität. Zunehmende staatliche Intervention in Bezug auf die Ziele und Ergebnisse der Berufsberatung führen dazu, dass einige Praktizierende tief unglücklich über die dadurch ausgeübte erhöhte Kontrolle über ihre Arbeit sind. Basierend auf Forschung aus Neuseeland argumentiert dieser Artikel, dass Praktiker der Macht und dem Einfluss der staatlichen Agenden des Wirtschafts-und Sozialstaats unterliegen, die im Widerspruch zu ihrer bevorzugte Position mit der Person im Mittelpunkt des Helfens stehen. Foucault argumentiert, dass Macht nicht ohne Widerstand existieren kann; allerdings haben jene, die sich mit einem Beruf identifizieren nur wenig Raum für Dissens. Sie äußern Widerstand durch Festhalten an persönlichen Werten. Die Stärkung der Rolle der Berufsverbände kann sie mit einer Stimme versehen, die gehört werden muss.

Resumen

Entre roca y suelo duro: la resistencia y la construcción de la identidad profesional. El aumento de la intervención estatal respecto a los objetivos y metas de la orientación para carrera entristece profundamente a algunos profesionales de la orientación, que ven su trabajo excesivamente controlado. Con base en una investigación llevada a cabo en Nueva Zelanda, este artículo argumenta que los orientadores están sometidos al poder y la influencia de planes enconómicos y de bienestar social contrarios a la posición que prefieren, que es la de centrarse en la ayuda personal. Foucault afirma que el poder no puede existir sin resistencia, si bien aquellos que identifica como poseedores de una profesión tienen pocos espacios para disentir y expresan su resistencia a través de la adhesión a valores personales. Reforzar el papel de la orientación puede proporcionarles una voz que necesita ser oída.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.University of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
  2. 2.School of BusinessCharles Sturt UniversityNew South WalesAustralia

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