Using the Inclusive Career Genogram(ICG) to talk about gender and possible selves

Elissa H. Buxbaum, M.S.EdColorado State University

TEACHER

PROFESSOR

DATA ANALYST

INVESTMENT BANKER

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

NURSE

THERAPIST

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

VETERINARIAN

The Gender Shift

As of 2010, women hold 78 percent of veterinary school seats, according to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges

Title IX, which in 1972 abolished gender discrimination in federally funded education

Salary? median income of female veterinarians in private practice was $79,000 in 2007. For males, it was $109,000

flexible schedules

Food Animal Medicine - 82.5% male

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/May-2010/Women-In-Veterinary-Medicine/

“My husband introduces himself as my wife,” says Hendicks, the UPenn dean. “I know I have been fortunate to have a husband so willing to be the soccer mom and chauffeur. It is hard for working women without support from home.”

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/May-2010/Women-In-Veterinary-Medicine/

Gender in Job Performance Evaluations http://www.fastcompany.com/3034895/strong-female-lead/the-one-word-men

-never-see-in-their-performance-reviews  

"Jessica is really talented, but I wish she’d be less abrasive. She comes on too strong." Her male counterpart? "Steve is an easy case, smart and great to work with. He needs to learn to be a little more patient, but who doesn’t?”

ABRASIVE ALONE WAS USED 17 TIMES TO DESCRIBE 13 DIFFERENT WOMEN, BUT THE WORD NEVER APPEARED IN MEN’S REVIEWS.

What’s in an adjective?

Feminine

Bossy

Nurturing (Soft)

Pushy

Careful/Political

Masculine

Assertive

Helpful

Gets the Job Done – A Leader

Weak/Passive

What messages do we receive? As kids? As Transitioning Adults?

Unconscious Bias

Role as Advocates

“Darkness can’t exist in the light” – Sarah Silverman’s Therapist

“If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable” – Mr. Rogers

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/10/22/450830121/sarah-silverman-opens-up-about-depression-comedy-and-troublemaking

Inclusive Career Genogram (ICG) How are our possible selves gendered?

Use of Role Models, hobbies, favorite subjects in school

Adjectives – Smart, Strong, Courageous, Protective

What Questions can we Ask?- How do you see yourself as ___? - Who were the people who told you that you could be good at that? - What would it be like if…- Could you imagine…- Tell me about your female professors- What if we explored gender identity? Where do you find that in your ICG ? - How did you feel saying that you liked math when you were 10? 16? 34?

Getting Beyond Assumptions

Intersecting IdentitiesGender AND… Race, Ethnicity, Class, Disability, Religion, Sexual Orientation, First Language, Nationality, Familial Status, Veteran Status, Geographic, size/body type, Age

Let’s Be Creative…- Occupation- Role Model, Fictional Character, Hobby- Red Card – Social Identity Marker

Elissa H. BuxbaumElissa.buxbaum@gmail.com

Buxbaum, E. H.., & Hill, J. C. (2013). Inclusive career genogram activity: Working with clients facing forced career transitions to broaden the mind and encourage possibilities. Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, 29 (4), 45-59.