A critique of the Capability Approach’s potential for application to career guidance

Egdell, Valerie; Robertson, Peter J.

Abstract

In this article, we provide a balanced critique of Sen’s Capability Approach (CA) with reference to its potential to inform career guidance theory and practice. There are varying understandings and interpretations of the CA. Some see capabilities as universal, whilst others favour a more relativist view. The CA is also vulnerable to misunderstanding. Critiques based on misunderstanding are easily dismissed, so our focus is on substantive conceptual and practical critiques. Three main challenges are explored: conceptual debates about the nature of freedom and justice; limitations arising from the disciplinary origins of the CA; and challenges in operationalising the CA.

Citation

Egdell, V., & Robertson, P. J. (2021). A critique of the Capability Approach’s potential for application to career guidance. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 21, 447-463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-020-09445-0

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 27, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 16, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Deposit Date: Oct 22, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 22, 2020
• Journal: International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance
• Print ISSN: 0251-2513
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-1782
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Pages: 447-463
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-020-09445-0
• Keywords: Capability Approach, Career guidance, Career theory
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2694186