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Career reentry and the Kaleidoscope Career Model: experiences of high achieving professional women reentering the workforce after opting out

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dc.contributor.authorKnowles, Jennifer, author
dc.contributor.authorGloeckner, Gene, advisor
dc.contributor.authorKamberelis, George, committee member
dc.contributor.authorMainiero, Lisa, committee member
dc.contributor.authorHaddock, Shelley, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2018-01-17T16:45:39Z
dc.date.available2018-01-17T16:45:39Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of career reentry of high achieving professional women who had opted out of the workforce after having children. The theoretical framework was based on the Kaleidoscope Career Model of Mainiero and Sullivan, and its parameters of authenticity, balance, and challenge. The research indicated that most professional women did not willingly leave the workforce after having children. Instead, due to family pulls and workplace pushes, they felt like they had no other option. While the main focus of the study revolved around the experiences of high achieving professional women reentering the workforce, reasons why these women opted out as well as their experiences while opted out were also examined to fully understand the phenomenon. Although there is considerable research as to why women opt out, minimal research exists on their experiences while opted out and their career reentry experiences. The participants studied were eight high achieving professional women who had successfully reentered the workforce after opting out. They were married, had attended graduate school, and had been in professional careers prior to opting out. In-depth interviews and life histories were conducted. Data were analyzed using Clarke's situational analysis method, and the story of these women was told through the composite woman. Three types of maps were used to help analyze the data: situational maps, both messy and ordered, social world/arena maps, and positional maps. While Clarke's maps are typically used for the hard sciences, they were beneficial for this social science study. Modifications to the maps were made and the differences are discussed. The Kaleidoscope Career Self-Assessment Inventory (KCSI) was also given to the participants to better understand which parameter of authenticity, balance, and challenge was given the most focus. Rich results were added to the existing research. Flexibility was critical for the composite woman to successfully reenter the workforce. She faced challenges reentering and was offered a lower salary. Balance became a daily struggle. She strived to achieve authenticity, while putting the least emphasis on challenge. Understanding why she left the workforce, her experiences while she was opted out, as well as her struggles to successfully reenter the workforce provides valuable information for organizations, human resource professionals, those who create government policies, as well as women who have opted out. New models were created to provide a framework on how to succeed during these three stages: decision to opt out, experiences while opted out, and career reentry experiences. Creating a more equitable and flexible work environment would result in inching closer to breaking the glass ceiling by reducing the prevalence of opting out.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierKnowles_colostate_0053A_14479.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/185664
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjecthigh achieving professional women
dc.subjectkaleidoscope career model
dc.subjectsituational analysis
dc.subjecthuman resources development
dc.subjectcareer reentry
dc.subjectopting out
dc.titleCareer reentry and the Kaleidoscope Career Model: experiences of high achieving professional women reentering the workforce after opting out
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEducation
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

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