Gender Conflict: A case study from an action theory perspective Michael R. Dadson, Ph.D. (Student), Trevor Olson, Ph.D. (Student), Richard A. Young, Ed.D., Affiliated with The University of British Columbia Counseling Psychology Program.
Research has shown that an alignment to rigid masculine identities and genderrole conflict is predictive of an overall reluctance by men to seek treatment of any kind, including help for work related problems (Rochlen & O’Brien, 2002; O’Neil, 2008). Further, an over-identification with work success as a masculine ideal may contribute to a pervasive number of inter- and intrapersonal problems some men experience (O’Neil, 2008).
Four themes of change: Change in relationship to men; Change in relationship to self; Change in relationship to others; Change in relationship to father/son. Gender issues and dominant ideals of masculinity are emerging as reasons for men’s general reluctance to treat mental illnesses (Rabinowitz & Cochran, 2000; Oliffe, & Phillips, 2008). Initial findings indicates men are particularly able to engage in therapeutic activities when interventions are action power/competition differentials between men.
It would seem that work is important for men because, through work, men make sense of who they are, what their role is in their community, and what their lives mean. Men who identify with traditional masculine ideals seem to need help and information about how to achieve their occupational goals, yet an adherence to masculine ideologies predicts a reluctance to access help (O’Neil, 2008; Rochlen, Blazina, & Raghunathan, 2002; Rochlen & O’Brien, 2002). The problem counseling psychologists face is that the culture and language of traditional psychology and psychotherapy conflict with masculine culture and language (Brooks, 1998). Contextual action theory addresses this problem because it is interested not only in the cause and effect of behavior but in understanding the meaning and goals men use to explain the purpose of their behavior.
The GRCS (O’Neil 1986) was administered to assess the GRC in relation to work. George scores 33 out of a possible 36 on this scale with an overall score of 144.
The purpose of this study is to uncover how gender-role conflict (GRC) are experienced by a man having a vocational and work crisis using a contextual action theory perspective (Young & Valach, 2000). In this study, the contextual (4) I feel torn between my hectic work action research method is used to conceptualize a case study that shows a schedule and caring from my health. conflicted man’s manifest behaviour, internal processes, and the social meaning of his career actions and vocational counseling project (Young & Valach, 2000; Strongly agree Strongly Disagree Young, Valach, & Collin, 2002). 6 5 4 3 2 1 Research Question: (11) My career, job, or school affects the “What is the meaning of the manifest behavior and internal processes of quality of my leisure or family life.
a Gender Role Conflicted man’s experience with a career crisis and a disrupted vocational counseling project?”
Strongly agree 6
Action Project Research Method:
5
Strongly Disagree 4
3
2
1
(17) Finding the time to relax is difficult for me.
Contextual action theory is based on the notion that people make sense of their Strongly agree Strongly Disagree own and other people’s behaviour as goal directed. This perspective adapts the notion that actions have social, personal, and intentional context and relevance; 6 5 4 3 2 1 they have a beginning and end, and cluster in such a way that they organize (27) My needs to work or study keep me goals (Young and Valach, in press). from my family or leisure more than I would Contextual action theory is used to conceptualize a case study in order to like. capture a fuller description of a man's GRC within a career crisis exploring not Strongly agree Strongly Disagree only the degree of gender role conflict but also the goals, actions and social processes of GRC at an individual level and as they are experienced within 6 5 4 3 2 1 social processes. (31) My work or school often disrupts other Action theory research method (Young, Valach, & Domene, 2005) is particularly parts of my life (home, family, health, leisure. well suited to address the presence, meaning and social context of GRC in men’s lives because, similar to gender studies, it incorporates the insights of a Strongly agree Strongly Disagree social constructionist perspective in both epistemology and research method and is philosophically congruent with the Role Socialization Paradigm of Gender 6 5 4 3 2 1 (Pleck,1981,1995; O’Neil 1981, 2008). (36) Overwork and stress caused by a need The findings of this case study are based on data gathered from therapeutic to achieve on the ob or in school, practice with a man who experiencing gender-role strain (GRS) and gender-role affects/hurts my life. conflict (GRC) and having a vocational and work crisis. Data analysis proceeds from description to organization (Young, Valach, & Domene, 2005). First data Strongly agree Strongly Disagree units describing gender role conflict and vocational actions and their inferences are gathered. Data units are then organized by analysing their relationship to 6 5 4 3 2 1 other actions, projects and careers (Young, Valach, & Domene, 2005). Case Conceptualization: George is a 30year old married man with a three month old daughter and a two year old son. Anne his wife has insisted he seek vocational counselling because George has been under-employed since he graduated from college with a Bachelor degree in communication. After graduation he had several offers but he turned them all down because none of those jobs were good enough because they were not for senior management positions. He now works as a store clerk. George’s wife is a successful business women is ready to leave him if he does not get a real job that can make enough income to allow her to stay home and raise the kids. In his case, action theory acts as a guiding framework that facilitates the systematic and pragmatic entrance into George’s actual world at the level of meaning, cognitions, emotions, behaviours and relationships.
Figure 2. Perspectives on action and corresponding data collection sources in the action project method (Young, Valach & Domene, 2005)
It would seem that work is important for men because, through work, men make sense of who they are, what their role is in their community, and what their lives mean. Men who identify with traditional masculine ideals seem to need help and information about how to achieve their occupational goals, yet an adherence to masculine ideologies predicts a reluctance to access help (O’Neil, 2008; Rochlen, Blazina, & Raghunathan, 2002; Rochlen & O’Brien, 2002). The problem counseling psychologists face is that the culture and language of traditional psychology and psychotherapy conflict with masculine culture and language (Brooks, 1998). Contextual action theory addresses this problem because it is interested not only in the cause and effect of behavior but in understanding the meaning and goals men use to explain the purpose of their behavior. The purpose of this study is to uncover how gender-role conflict (GRC) are experienced by a man having a vocational and work crisis using a contextual action theory perspective (Young & Valach, 2000). In this study, the contextual action research method is used to conceptualize a case study that shows a conflicted man’s manifest behaviour, internal processes, and the social meaning of his career actions and vocational counseling project (Young & Valach, 2000; Young, Valach, & Collin, 2002). Research Question:
Research has shown that an alignment to rigid masculine identities and gender-role conflict is predictive of an overall reluctance by men to seek treatment of any kind, including help for work related problems (Rochlen & O’Brien, 2002; O’Neil, 2008). Further, an overidentification with work success as a masculine ideal may contribute to a pervasive number of inter- and intrapersonal problems some men experience (O’Neil, 2008). It would seem that work is important for men because, through work, men make sense of who they are, what their role is in their community, and what their lives mean. Men who identify with traditional masculine ideals seem to need help and information about how to achieve their occupational goals, yet an adherence to masculine ideologies predicts a reluctance to access help (O’Neil, 2008; Rochlen, Blazina, & Raghunathan, 2002; Rochlen & O’Brien, 2002). The problem counseling psychologists face is that the culture and language of traditional psychology and psychotherapy conflict with masculine culture and language (Brooks, 1998). Contextual action theory addresses this problem because it is interested not only in the cause and effect of behavior but in understanding the meaning and goals men use to explain the purpose of their behavior. The purpose of this study is to uncover how gender-role conflict (GRC) are experienced by a man having a vocational and work crisis using a contextual action theory perspective (Young & Valach, 2000). In this study, the contextual action research method is used to conceptualize a case study that shows a conflicted man’s manifest behaviour, internal processes, and the social meaning of his career actions and vocational counseling project (Young & Valach, 2000; Young, Valach, & Collin, 2002). Research Question:
“What is the social meaning and internal processes of a Gender Role Conflicted man’s experience with a career crisis and a disrupted vocational counseling project?”
“What is the social meaning and internal processes of a Gender Role Conflicted man’s experience with a career crisis and a disrupted vocational counseling project?”
Conclusions and Future Research: Based on this case analysis, we are able to state that action theory captures a fuller account of this man’s vocational and masculine crisis than the gender role conflict scale (O’Neil, 1986). We can illustrate that an action theory perspective was able to facilitate in him, self-awareness of the internal meaning he is making of his behaviors. By understanding more about how GRS and GRC are present in men’s actions, goals and inner process about work, counseling psychologists and therapists will gain a better understanding of how to design therapeutic interventions, engage men in therapy and promote psychological services to men. Action theory holds great promise as a theoretical perspective and research method for future men’s studies.