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Are you interested in how young people choose their careers?

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Our summary today works with the article titled Whose choice? Young people, career choices and reflexivity re-examined from 2015 by Jacqueline Laughland-Booÿ, Margery Mayall, and Zlatdo Skrbiš, published in the Current Sociology journal. This is a great preparation for our next interviewee, Amelia Gaskell in episode 177 talking about the younger generation and their passion. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how the next generation seems to choose their careers. This article presents how reflexivity is connected to choosing one’s career besides individualism and environment.

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Welcome to today’s What is The Future For Cities podcast and its Research episode; my name is Fanni, and today I will introduce a research paper by summarising it. The episode really is just a short summary of the original paper, and, in case it is interesting enough, I would encourage everyone to check out the whole paper. Stay tuned until because I will give you the 3 most important things and some questions which would be interesting to discuss.

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At the crossroads of youth and the future, today’s generation faces a landscape of career choices that seems boundless. Yet, this expanse is not as open as it appears; it’s a terrain where every path is subtly signposted by the social and economic markers of habitus. This journey into the heart of decision-making reveals a complex map of individual aspirations, each route influenced by the silent yet powerful forces of upbringing and class. The study, set within the Australian context, examines how young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds engage with the prevailing discourses of career choice, revealing that their decisions are deeply influenced by their socio-economic status and the degree of reflexivity encouraged by their upbringing and social environment.

At the heart of this exploration is ‘habitus’, a term that might sound esoteric but is deeply rooted in the everyday. It’s the unseen hand of our upbringing, the silent whisper of our social environment, nudging us towards paths that ‘fit’ us. Like a family recipe passed down through generations, habitus is the collection of tastes, habits, and inclinations we inherit from our social context. It shapes not just what we think is possible, but what we dare to dream. For young people at the crossroads of their careers, habitus can be a guiding star or an invisible fence, subtly delineating the boundaries of their aspirations.

Yet, habitus is not destiny. Reflexivity can be the counterweight to habitus. Reflexivity, in the context of the study, is understood as the capacity of young individuals to critically evaluate and adapt their career choices in response to their socio-economic realities, with the finding that this trait is more pronounced among those from less privileged backgrounds who must navigate greater adversities. Reflexivity is the ability to step back, to question the status quo, to see beyond the immediate horizon. It’s a form of mental agility, a readiness to adapt and to challenge the internal map we’ve been handed.

The authors suggest that this reflexivity is not doled out evenly across the social spectrum. Instead, it thrives under conditions of adversity. Those from more privileged backgrounds might glide along well-trodden paths with ease, but it’s the ones who’ve navigated the rougher trails that have honed the art of reflexivity. They are the cartographers of their own lives, redrawing the maps handed to them, turning barriers into bridges. This part of the story is crucial, as it sets the stage for understanding the dynamics of choice and the real agents of change in the landscape of career decisions. The insights and revelations about habitus and reflexivity emerge from a meticulous study, part of the ‘Our Lives’ project, which tracks the evolving life choices of a diverse group of young Queenslanders as they transition from adolescence into adulthood.

The analysis reveals a striking pattern: young individuals from varying backgrounds often have contrasting experiences and perceptions of career choice. There seems to be a stark contrast in career planning experiences, where young people from affluent backgrounds often unconsciously follow traditional and socially normative paths, while those from less privileged backgrounds exhibit a heightened reflexivity, actively questioning and adapting their choices in the face of limited resources and greater obstacles. Those from more affluent backgrounds might see a world of options, their choices seemingly as vast as the ocean. Yet, the study uncovers that these choices may be more like currents, carrying them along familiar routes pre-charted by their upbringing. In contrast, participants from less privileged sectors often display a heightened sense of awareness and scrutiny in their decision-making. Their choices, perhaps fewer and fraught with greater risk, are made with a keen sense of the terrain they must navigate. This heightened reflexivity among the less privileged is one of the study’s most compelling findings, suggesting that the very act of choosing can be an assertion of agency against the constraints of socioeconomic status.

Building on these insights, the implications of such stark contrasts in the experience of choice among young people are profound, prompting a re-evaluation of how society understands and supports the aspirations of its youth. The research indicates that while some young people are riding the wave of their socio-economic advantage, others are swimming against the tide, their choices more deliberate and potentially transformative. This divergence underscores a critical insight: the playing field of life choices is not even, and the game is rigged with invisible rules written by the hand of social class. There is a critical need to reassess career guidance and educational support systems to better accommodate the diverse socio-economic realities of young people, ensuring that all have equitable opportunities to develop the reflexivity necessary for making informed and autonomous career choices. The study’s participants, through their lived experiences, articulate a narrative that challenges the myth of meritocracy and the oversimplified notion of individual choice. It’s a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of those who must often find their way in the shadow of systemic barriers.

The journey of career choice is far more than a series of individual decisions; it is a reflection of a broader societal narrative. The paths that young people take are etched with the markings of their socio-economic origins, and their steps are influenced by the weight of their social inheritance. Yet, within this complex interplay of determinism and agency, there is a glimmer of transformation. The study reveals that the act of choosing can become an act of defiance, a way for the less privileged to assert their place in a world that often overlooks them. It is a reminder that while the landscape of opportunity may be uneven, the human spirit’s drive to rise above circumstance is a powerful equalizer. This doesn’t just concern young lives; it calls into question the very structures that define what is possible, urging a collective reflection on how to create a society that truly empowers all its members to shape their destinies.

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What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Do you have any follow up question? Let me know on Twitter at WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the transcripts and show notes are available! Additionally, I will highly appreciate if you consider subscribing to the podcast or on the website. I hope this was an interesting paper for you as well, and thanks for tuning in!

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Finally, as the most important things, I would like to highlight 3 aspects:

1. Individual choice in career paths might not be entirely free as it is deeply influenced by one’s socio-economic background.
2. Reflexivity, the ability to critically assess and adapt one’s choices is often more pronounced among those from less privileged backgrounds.
3. Enhancing reflexivity and critical self-awareness across all socio-economic groups could improve the equity and authenticity of career choices among young people.

Additionally, it would be great to talk about the following questions:

1. In what ways could society better support young people in making truly informed and independent career choices?
2. How do you think your upbringing has influenced your career choices?
3. What would you change on those influences?

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