In this reaction to Diemer and Ali's article, “Integrating Social Class Into Vocational Psychology: Theory and Practice Implications,” the authors point out concerns with binary schema of social class, highlight the contribution of social class to the social cognitive career theory, argue for a more nuanced look at ways that work provides social mobility in the United States, and note the need to integrate social class with other contextual variables.
Ali, S.R., McWhirter, E.H., & Chronister, K.M. (2005). Self-efficacy and vocational outcome expectations for adolescents of lower socioeconomic status: A pilot study. Journal of Career Assessment, 13, 40-58.
2.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2008) Table A.1. Employment situation, September 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2008, from http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm
3.
Blustein, D.L., Chaves, A.P., Diemer, M.A., Gallagher, L.A., Marshall, K.G., Sirin, S., et al. (2002). Voices of the forgotten half: The role of social class in the school-to-work transition. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49, 311-323.
4.
Diemer, M.A., & Ali, S.R. (IN PRESS). Integrating social class into vocational psychology: Theory and practice implications. Journal of Career Assessment, ISSUE, PAGES.
5.
Fouad, N.A., & Byars-Winston, A.M. (2005). Cultural context of career choice: Meta-analysis of race/ethnicity differences. Career Development Quarterly, 53, 223-233.
6.
Krieger, N., Williams, D.R., & Moss, N.E. (1997). Measuring social class in US public health research: Concepts, methodologies, and guidelines. Annual Review of Public Health, 18(1), 341.
7.
Lent, R.W., Brown, S.D., Brenner, B., Chopra, S.B., Davis, T., Talleyrand, R., et al. (2001). The role of contextual supports and barriers in the choice of math/science educational options: A test of social cognitive hypotheses. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48, 474-483.
8.
Lent, R.W., Brown, S.D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45(1), 79-122.
9.
Lent, R.W., Brown, S.D., Schmidt, J., Brenner, B., Lyons, H., & Treistman, D. (2003). Relation of contextual supports and barriers to choice behavior in engineering majors: Test of alternative social cognitive models. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50, 458-465.
10.
Lent, R.W., Brown, S.D., Talleyrand, R., McPartland, E.B., Davis, T., Chopra, S.B., et al. (2002). Career choice barriers, supports, and coping strategies: College students' experiences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 60(1), 61-72.
11.
Liu, W.M., Ali, S.R., Soleck, G., Hopps, J., Dunston, K., & Pickett, T., Jr. (2004). Using social class in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 3-18.
12.
Liu, W.M., Soleck, G., Hopps, J., Dunston, K., & Pickett, T., Jr. (2004). A new framework to understand social class in counseling: The social class worldview model and modern classism theory. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development , 32(2), 95-122.
13.
Lundberg, G.A. (1940). The measurement of socioeconomic status. American Sociological Review, 5, 29-39.
14.
Wright, E.O. (1979). Class structure and income determination. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
