Exploring the influence of role models on the Career development process of school-going Adolescents from a low-income community in South Africa
Date
2016-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is alombekend dat rolmodelle `n formatiewe invloed op die lewe van individue kan uitvoer.
Terwyl adolessente in lae-inkomste gemeenskappe gekonfronteer word deur verskeie
loopbaanhindernisse, word daar beweer dat die teenwoordigheid van `n positiewe rolmodel die
loopbaankeuses en algehele lewe van hierdie adolessente kan bevorder. Dit is daarom belangrik
om te bepaal hoe rolmodelle die persoonlike- en beroepskeuses van jongmense beïnvloed. Die
huidige studie poog daarin om die invloed van rolmodelle op die loopbaanontwikkelingsproses
van hoërskoolleerders in `n Suid-Afrikaanse informele nedersetting te beskryf. Hierdie
kwalitatiewe studie het die narratiewe geeksamineer van nege Graad 11 leerders tussen die
ouderdomme van 16 en 20, van 'n lae-inkomste, grootliks isiXhosa-sprekende, peri-stedelike
gemeenskaap in die Kaapse Wynland Distrik van die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Die narratiewe
was toegelig deur die gebruik van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en een fokusgroep
onderhoud. Deur gebruik te maak van tematiese analise, het hierdie studie gepoog om te
identifiseer wie die leerders as hul rolmodel(le) geselekteer het asook hoekom, hoe die gekose
rolmodel(le) `n beduidende rol in die leerders se beroeps- en lewensplanne gespeel het, en hoe
die leerders die aanloklike eienskappe van hul gekose rolmodel(le) toegepas het tot hul algehele
beroeps- en lewensplanne. Die deelnemers se narratiewe was gekontekstualiseer op grond van
die beginsels van die Sosiale-Kognitiewe Loopbaanteorie. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie
dui daarop dat die invloed van rolmodelle, tesame met kulturele waardes, `n deurslaggewende
rol speel om jongmense se besluite in te lig oor hoe hulle hul toekomstige beroepe kies en hoe
die rolmodelle hul algehele beroeps- en lewensplanne beïnvloed.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is commonly known that role models can exercise a formative influence in the lives of individuals. While adolescents in low-income communities are faced with various career barriers, scholars contend that having a positive role model may influence their career decisions and overall life plans. Therefore, it is important to consider how role models influence personal and career decisions made by young people. This study aimed to describe the manner in which role models influence the career development process of high school learners from a South African township. Following a qualitative research approach, this investigation examined the narratives of nine Grade 11 learners aged between 16 and 20 years, from a low-income predominantly isiXhosa speaking, peri-urban community in the Cape Winelands region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Semi-structured individual interviews and one focus-group interview were conducted to document the stories of these learners. Through thematic analysis, the study sought to identify who the learners chose as role model (s) and why, how the chosen role model (s) has played a significant role in the learners’ career and life plans, and how the learners have applied the attractive qualities of their chosen role model(s) to their overall career and life plans. Participants’ narratives were contextualised in relation to the tenets of the Social Cognitive Career Theory. Findings of the study suggest that role model influence, along with cultural values play a pivotal role in informing the decisions made by young people on how they choose their future careers, and on how role models influence their overall career and life plans.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is commonly known that role models can exercise a formative influence in the lives of individuals. While adolescents in low-income communities are faced with various career barriers, scholars contend that having a positive role model may influence their career decisions and overall life plans. Therefore, it is important to consider how role models influence personal and career decisions made by young people. This study aimed to describe the manner in which role models influence the career development process of high school learners from a South African township. Following a qualitative research approach, this investigation examined the narratives of nine Grade 11 learners aged between 16 and 20 years, from a low-income predominantly isiXhosa speaking, peri-urban community in the Cape Winelands region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Semi-structured individual interviews and one focus-group interview were conducted to document the stories of these learners. Through thematic analysis, the study sought to identify who the learners chose as role model (s) and why, how the chosen role model (s) has played a significant role in the learners’ career and life plans, and how the learners have applied the attractive qualities of their chosen role model(s) to their overall career and life plans. Participants’ narratives were contextualised in relation to the tenets of the Social Cognitive Career Theory. Findings of the study suggest that role model influence, along with cultural values play a pivotal role in informing the decisions made by young people on how they choose their future careers, and on how role models influence their overall career and life plans.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Role Models, Low-income people, Career Development -- Adolescents, UCTD