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The Impact of Childhood Abuse on University Women’s Career Choice

Title:

The Impact of Childhood Abuse on University Women’s Career Choice

Reilly, Rosemary C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7274-4488 and D'Amico, Miranda (2008) The Impact of Childhood Abuse on University Women’s Career Choice. The Journal About Women in Higher Education, 1 (1). pp. 143-163. ISSN 1940-7890

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Official URL: http://journals.naspa.org/njawhe/vol1/iss1/

Abstract

A study is discussed that describes a link between childhood abuse and career choice for 12 university women. Purposive sampling was used, and the study employed a cross-case comparative approach with an emphasis on feminist principles. An interactive, collaborative interview was developed, prompting stories that reflected career choice processes. A general framework for processing the naturalistically obtained data was constant across the cases and was subjected to criteria to insure trustworthiness. Three basic themes emerged: (1) for women who were still enduring a cycle of pain and fear as a result of long-term child abuse, safety was a dominant concern; (2) women who had managed to transform their experiences approached career choice as a “mission” in order to right the wrongs of their past; and (3) negative cases that did not fit the general trend provided an opportunity to reexamine the data and the theme of distance. These results have important implications for vocational counseling and academic advising.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Applied Human Sciences
Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Authors:Reilly, Rosemary C. and D'Amico, Miranda
Journal or Publication:The Journal About Women in Higher Education
Date:2008
Funders:
  • This research was supported through a grant from the General Research Fund from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, Concordia University.
Keywords:survivors of childhood abuse, university women, career choice, qualitative research, vocational psychology, academic advising
ID Code:6530
Deposited By: Rosemary Reilly
Deposited On:13 Apr 2010 16:30
Last Modified:07 Dec 2020 20:35
Additional Information:This research was supported through a grant from the General Research Fund from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, Concordia University.

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