Barriers and Enablers for Career Development Among Marginalized South African Youth

A South African case study is presented to provide insight into the career barriers and enablers of marginalized youth as well as recommendations for facilitating career decision-making processes. The systems theory framework of career development (STF) developed by Patton and McMahon was used as a conceptual guide to explore the influences affecting the career development of Grade 12 high school students at the Kayamandi township in South Africa. An in-depth qualitative analysis of participants’ perceptions was undertaken using the My System of Career Influences (MSCI) qualitative assessment measure developed by McMahon, Patton, and Watson. This instrument allows career influences to be explored at the individual, social, and environmental-societal levels. As part of the STF, a narrative approach was utilized to identify career enablers and barriers inherent in these adolescents’ career stories. This study provides a critical glimpse into the complexity of how the multitude of influences, including career enablers and barriers, can be intertwined in the context of adversity and marginalization.