The problem and the solution. Conditions in the United States have created a situation in which some middle-aged White males are experiencing a stalled career; they perceive they have plateaued in career progression, while at the same time women and minority peers continue advancing.There has been no research describing the stalled career experience or its impact on the workplace.This phenomenological study explores the stalled career phenomenon by asking White males who have experienced the nonevent work transition of a stalled career to describe their experiences.The analytical framework for this exploration into adult development is transitions theory. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Burke, R.J., & Black, S. (1997). Save the males: Backlash in organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 16, 933-942.
6.
Chiriboga, D.A. (1989). Stress and loss in middle age. In R. Kalish (Ed.), Midlife loss: Coping strategies (pp. 42-88). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
7.
Creswell, J.W. (1994). Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
8.
Creswell, J.W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
9.
Eby, L.T., & Buch, K. (1995). Job loss as career growth: Responses to involuntary career transitions. Career Development Quarterly, 44(1), 26-42.
10.
Eisner, E.W. (1991). The enlightened eye: Qualitative inquiry and the enhancement of educational practice. New York: Macmillan.
11.
Engels, D.W. (1995). Common themes in mid-life career transitions. Career Development Quarterly, 44(1), 83-88.
12.
Erikson, E. (1950). Childhood and society. Middlesex, UK: Penguin.
13.
Faludi, S. (1999). Stiffed: The betrayal of the American man. New York: William Morrow.
14.
Glaser, B.G., & Strauss, A.L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. New York: Aldinede Gruyter.
15.
Guba, E.G. (1981). Criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of naturalistic inquiries. Educational Communication and Technology , 29(2), 75-91.
16.
Hoppe, A. (1996, November 4). The last angry man. San Francisco Chronicle, p. A25.
17.
Husserl, E. (1931). Ideas: General introduction to pure phenomenology (W. R. B. Gibson, Trans.). New York: Humanities Press. (Original work published 1913)
18.
Jaffe, D.T., & Scott, C.D. (1998). Rekindling work commitment and effectiveness through a new work contract. In M. K. Gowing & J. D. Kraft (Eds.), The new organizational reality: Downsizing, restructuring, and revitalization (pp. 185-205). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association .
19.
Kormanik, M.B. (2000). White male backlash: Practitioner perspectives on the phenomenon. In K. P. Kuchinke (Ed.), 2000 Academy of Human Resource Development conference proceedings (Vol. 1, pp. 180-187). Baton Rouge, LA: Academy of Human Resource Development .
20.
Levinson, D.J. (1978). The seasons of a man's life. New York: Knopf.
21.
Maxwell, J.A. (1996). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
22.
Moustakas, C.E. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
23.
Neugarten, B.L. (1972). Personality and the aging process. The Gerontologist, 12, 9-15.
24.
Patton, M.Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (2nd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
25.
Pelled, L.H., Eisenhardt, K.M., & Xin, K.R. (1999). Exploring the black box: An analysis of work group diversity, conflict, and performance. Administrative Science Quarterly,44(1), 1-28.
26.
Reeves, A.F. (1995, February 21). What's behind White male anger. San Francisco Chronicle, p. A17.
27.
Rifkin, G. (1994). Workplace diversity: The forgotten White male . Harvard Business Review, 72(4), 8.
28.
Robinson, S.L., & Morrison, E.W. (2002). The development of psychological contract breach and violation: A longitudinal study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 21(5), 525-546.
29.
Rudestam, K.E., & Newton, R.R. (1992). Surviving your dissertation: A comprehensive guide to content and process. Newbury Park, CA: Sage
30.
Schlossberg, N.K. (1981). A model for analyzing human adaptation to transition . Counseling Psychologist, 9(2), 2-18.
31.
Schlossberg, N.K., Waters, E.B., & Goodman, J. (1995). Counseling adults in transition: Linking practice with theory (2nd ed.). New York : Springer.
32.
Seidman, I.E. (1991). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. New York: Teachers College Press.
33.
Sherif, M. (1966). Group conflict and cooperation. London: Routledge & Keegan Paul.
34.
Sullivan, S.E., Martin, D.F., Carden, W.A., & Mainiero, L.A. (2003). The road less traveled: How to manage the recycling career stage. Journal of Leadership &Organizational Studies, 10(2), 34-42.
35.
van Kaam, A. (1966). Existential foundations of psychology. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press.
36.
Yang, C. (1996, March 25). Worried White men may be the GOP's ace in the hole. Business Week, p. 51.
