Problem:
Pat is a 17-year-old high school senior who attends a career-technical school in a large city and has taken courses in culinary arts. Pat notes that this decision was based on parental advice: "Dad says I needed to learn something practical." Pat also notes that there is parental pressure for Pat to be self-supporting after high school graduation. Pat's father (Frank) works as a truck driver and is away more than half of every month. Pat's mother (Marie) works as a cashier at a local grocery store. Pat is an only child and feels responsible for providing health care assistance to Marie, who is not in good health.
Pat has worked bagging groceries at the same grocery store as Marie ever since age 16. Pat has always felt like a loner and spends much time alone at school. During free time he can often be found at Miller's Pond, where he daydreams about writing poetry and acting. However, Pat has low self-efficacy related to both activities and states that "people usually make fun of my poetry and laugh at my dreams related to acting." He does not want to be a chef; he would like to do something that is meaningful but does not know what that would be. Pat states, "I probably am not smart enough to ever amount to much of anything." Frank (Pat's dad) has stated that he expects Pat to be independent when he turns 18 in 6 months. Pat has come to see you to get some help figuring out "what would be a good job" after high school.
How do you conceptualize Pat's situation? Would it make a difference if he were female or male? Would it make a difference if he were Caucasian or a member of a racial minority? What if Pat had a disability? What if he were gay? Do any of these possible demographic variables influence how you conceptualize Pat's career needs? Do any of them influence how you might work with him? If not, then what is your responsibility in helping Pat prepare for any discrimination he is likely to experience? Is it possible for these factors not to make a difference in a discriminatory world? If they could make a difference in how you conceptualize Pat's situation and how you might work with him, then identify some of the demographic categories and discuss how they would influence your work. Need Assignment Help?