ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the concept of diversity and discusses the potential of the perspective to generate new and more differentiated insights when applied to studying careers. It examines contemporary career theory and practice from a critical diversity perspective. The chapter illustrates the importance of studying holistic careers and careers more holistically. Among the various theoretical and conceptual developments in the social sciences over the past decades, diversity has a prominent place. Diversity in the career research literature has remained tied to what is known as “traditional” career theory. The managing diversity discourse arose from a nexus of social movements, anti-discrimination legislation and public policy initiatives in the United States. Diversity perspectives on careers are important because the experiences of those people outside of the dominant group are largely ignored in research, teaching and subsequent career counselling. When career research is more open to diversity, then the study of careers in context will become the norm.
