LESBIAN AND GAY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND SUPER’S LIFE-SPAN,  
                     LIFE-SPACE THEORY  
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                         by 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                       Lisa M. White 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
       A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 
             Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development 
                 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education 
                     University of Toronto 
                           
                           
                           
                           
                   © Copyright by Lisa White 2014 
                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                   LESBIAN AND GAY CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND SUPER’S LIFE-SPAN,  
                                                                                 LIFE-SPACE THEORY  
                                                                                                      
                                                                                            Lisa White 
                                                                                   Doctor of Philosophy 
                                                   Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development 
                                                                                   University of Toronto 
                                                                                                 2014 
                                                                                                      
                                                                                              Abstract 
                                                                                                            
                                  The primary goal of the present study was to examine the influence of sexual minority 
                        identity on the career decision and trajectory of 15 lesbian women and 14 gay men, between 
                        the ages of 18-57.  Next, the phase of career development and the social context of these 
                        participants were examined through the lens of Super’s (1990) life-span, life-space theory of 
                        career development. Three main findings emerged from this study.  First, although 
                        heterosexism and homophobia pervasively influence the career development of sexual 
                        minorities, there is evidence of a process by which they mediate the impact of these influences 
                        on career development, namely, by minimizing exposure to homophobia, maximizing exposure 
                        to affirming professional and personal supports, and by capitalizing on strength and resilience 
                        gained over the course of developing a sexual minority identity.  Next, although participants’ 
                        phase of career development was consistent with what Super’s (1990) life-span theory would 
                        predict, factors related to sexual orientation and homophobia influenced how they maneuvered 
                        within and between these phases.  Finally, the situational determinants-portion of life-span 
                        theory did not adequately describe the social context within which sexual minorities choose 
                        and pursue careers, and the addition of oppression as an over-arching influence on the life-
                        space of sexual minority persons is proposed. Limitations of the present study, as well as 
                        implications for research and counselling practice are presented.     
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                      TABLE OF CONTENTS 
      ABSTRACT .....................................................................................................................   ii 
      AKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................   vi 
      LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii 
      LIST OF FIGURES ..........................................................................................................   ix 
      LIST OF APPENDICES ..................................................................................................    x 
      INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................    1 
      CHAPTER ONE: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................    6 
        Career Theory ............................................................................................................    6 
         Super’s Life-Span, Life-Space Theory of Career Development ..........................    7 
           Life-Span Theory .............................................................................................    8 
           Life-Space Theory ...........................................................................................  10 
           Self-Concept ....................................................................................................  13 
        Sexual Minority Identity Development: The Coming Out Process ..........................  14 
         Models of identity Development ..........................................................................  14 
           Influence of the coming out process on career development ..........................  17 
            Positive impact of the coming out process ..................................................  18 
        Factors Influencing Sexual Minority Career Development  .....................................  19 
         Homophobia .........................................................................................................  19 
           Avoiding Homophobia ....................................................................................  20 
            Image management .....................................................................................  20 
            Premature foreclosure .................................................................................  22 
             Influence of Stereotypes .........................................................................  23 
           Mediating the negative effects of homophobia ...............................................  24 
            Affirming environments ..............................................................................  24 
            Supportive peers and role models ...............................................................  25 
        Rationale for the Present Inquiry ..............................................................................  27 
      CHAPTER TWO: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................  29 
        Qualitative Research and the Interpretive Phenomenological Approach ..................  29 
        Situating The Researcher ..........................................................................................  30 
         Managing Reflexivity ...........................................................................................  32 
        Establishing Methodological Trustworthiness ..........................................................  33 
         Credibility .............................................................................................................  33 
         Transferability ......................................................................................................  33 
         Dependability .......................................................................................................  33 
         Confirmability ......................................................................................................  34 
        Research Participants ................................................................................................  34 
         Participant Groups, Pre-Interview ........................................................................  34 
           Exploration-aged participants (18-25) .............................................................  35 
           Establishment-aged participants (25-45) .........................................................  37 
           Maintenance-aged participants (45-65) ...........................................................  37 
        Procedure ...................................................................................................................  38 
         Interviews .............................................................................................................  41 
        Data Analysis ............................................................................................................  42 
         Participant Grouping by Career Phase .................................................................  42 
       
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         Influence of Social Context on Career Development .........................................   42 
      CHAPTER THREE: RESULTS ....................................................................................   44 
        Participant Distribution, Post Interview ..................................................................   44 
         Exploration .........................................................................................................   45 
           Crystallization ................................................................................................   47 
           Specification ..................................................................................................   47 
           Implementation ..............................................................................................   48 
         Establishment .....................................................................................................   50 
           Stabilization ...................................................................................................   51 
           Consolidation .................................................................................................   52 
           Advancing ......................................................................................................   53 
         Maintenance .......................................................................................................   54 
           Holding ..........................................................................................................   54 
           Updating ........................................................................................................   56 
           Innovating ......................................................................................................   56 
        Summary of “Exploration, Establishment, and Maintenance Phase of   
        Distribution” ............................................................................................................   57 
        Experience of Homophobia .....................................................................................   58 
         Direct Experience of Homophobia .....................................................................   58 
         Anticipated Experience of Homophobia ............................................................   61 
         On-going Experience of Homophobia ...............................................................   62 
        Summary of “Experience of Homophobia” ............................................................   63 
        Impact of Homophobia ...........................................................................................   63 
         Coming Out Process ...........................................................................................   65 
           Career delay ...................................................................................................   65 
           Self-acceptance ..............................................................................................   68 
           Adversity ........................................................................................................   72 
         Foreclosure .........................................................................................................   73 
           Safety as primary concern .............................................................................   74 
           Influence of stereotypes .................................................................................   74 
         Seeking Affirming Environments .......................................................................   77 
           Workplace ......................................................................................................   77 
            Closeting .................................................................................................   79 
           Geographical location ....................................................................................   82 
        Summary of “Impact of Homophobia” ...................................................................   84 
        Summary .................................................................................................................   85 
      CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION ................................................................................   87 
        The Process of Navigating the Impact of Sexual Minority Identity on Career  
        Development ...........................................................................................................   87 
        Life-Span, Life-Space Theory and Sexual Minority Career Development .............   91 
         Life-Span ............................................................................................................   91 
           Evidence for theory consistency ....................................................................   91 
           Alternative possibilities .................................................................................   92 
           Perception of career delay .............................................................................   93 
         Life-Space and the Impact of Homophobia ........................................................   94 
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