Young women’s experiences of parental pressure in the context of their career exploration

This study explored Canadian young women’s experiences of having received pressure from one or both parents regarding their career choices and future, within the context of their career exploration. Using Charmaz’ grounded theory approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 undergraduate female students who were experiencing or had experienced parental pressure. Analyses of participant narratives revealed several key themes. Career conversations with parents were described as one-sided and unhelpful. Participants described feeling frustrated, confused and inferior during and after these conversations and described feeling anxious in response to pressure. Nine felt that their feelings of control over their career environments were limited by parental pressure. Participants felt a desire to comply with parental career wishes and felt close to parents. These findings demonstrate that parental pressure could result in negative emotional responses and internal conflict in young adult women. This has negative consequences for their emotional well-being and career exploration processes. However, five felt that parental pressure increased their feelings of control over their career environment. More research is needed to clarify the role of parental pressure on young women’s career exploration. These results have practical implications for career counsellors working with young women and counsellors working with parents, including providing education about the impact of parental pressure and ensuring that they are feeling heard during career conversations