Women of Color's Career Aspiration

Impact of Patriarchal belief on and other factors related to Women of Color's Career Aspiration

Presenter: Cecile Bhang

Co-Presenter(s):
Thomas Dixon, Marisol Berta, Cynthia Orozo

Presenter Status: Faculty

Academic Year: 22-23

Semester: Spring

Department: Counseling

Funding Source/Sponsor: Koret Scholars Program

Other Funding Source/Program: N/A

President's Strategic Plan Goal: Diversity and Social Justice

Abstract:
Extensive research has shown that women across the globe, especially women of color, have a particular set of obstacles inhibing their career development. The patriarchal belief system impedes women’s career advancement, as well as their overall mental health and well-being. Evidence shows that women often take on household and familial responsibilities entirely, single or married, while also pursuing a career . This leads to work-life imbalance and throws a wrench in their career advancement due to a lack of time and energy (Mkhize, N., & Msomi, R., 2016). Related is the tendency of many women to end their education after having children, which leads them to settling for careers they are not passionate about or have low-paying salaries (Mkhize, N., & Msomi, R., 2016). In addition, research suggests that women of color face discrimination and mistreatment in the workplace; this causes them to avoid careers where these problems are endemic (Evans, K. M., & Herr, E. L.,1991), which contributes to underrepresentation of women in such fields. This in turn contributes to women feeling unwelcome and socially isolated in some career paths (Alfred, M. V., Ray, S. M., & Johnson, M. A., 2019). Women raised in families with patriarchal values had a particularly hard time with career advancement, due to subliminal messaging and gender stereotypes placed on them as children (Cook, E. P., Heppner, M. J., & O’Brien, K. M., 2002). The imposition of patriarchal beliefs early in life live deep in their psyche, causing low self-confidence and a sense of low self-efficacy (Velez, B. L., et al., 2018). When we examine the toxicity of patriarchal belief systems more deeply, we clearly see its effects on the career development of individual women, as well as the community women as a whole.