Applying the Life Design Model (LDM) to the career development of Swazi women from polygynous family settings

摘要

The aim of the study was to apply the Life Design Model (LDM) as a career counsellingudintervention to the lives of 10 Swazi women from polygynous family settings experiencingudcareer development challenges at work. The intervention sought to mitigate the effects ofudcultural values associated with polygyny that interfered with career life design choices anduddevelopment among employees. Life designing, within this study was conceptualised as theudapproaches and strategies utilised by individuals to manage and negotiate their multipleudsubjective identities.udThis study used a qualitative research method. The 10 Swazi women were selected throughudconvenience and snowball sampling methods and met the selection criteria of the age rangeudof 30-45 years, from a Swazi polygynous family setting, were employed or entrepreneur’s,udcompleted or were pursuing a higher education qualification. Data collection consisted ofudqualitative research instruments namely; biographical questionnaire and an individual indepthudinterview schedule, which followed the six steps of the Life Design career counsellingudintervention Model. Methodology consisted of thematic Content analysis with the LifeudDesign Model serving as a lens for intepretation supported by literature on Careeruddevelopment.udResearch findings were captured in the following themes, focusing on their effects on careerudlife design: (a) Swazi culture with sub-theme of cultural expectations, (b) polygynous familyudupbringing with subthemes of female parental role and male parental role and (c) career lifeuddesign for Swazi women with subthemes of conceptions of work life, adaptability andudconcept of self.udImplications of the study refer to the requirement for researchers, career counsellors andudpractitioners in the Psychology field to consider the idea that understanding how cultural roleudsalience and non-salience is significant in the career life design of women as one of theudmultiple approaches that can facilitate the process of gender equality and transformation inudthe workplace. The application, therefore, of career counselling interventions such as the LifeudDesign Model presents an opportunity for gaining this understanding from the narratives ofudthe very clients facing work life challenges and by so doing thus facilitating theudreconstruction of purposeful career identities.ud4udKey words: Swazi culture, career development, life designing, women, patriarchy, meaningudmaking, adaptability, role enactment, polygynous family, Life Design Model (LDM).