Critical and social justice informed theories in Career Development

Critical and social justice informed theories highlight how power structures, socioeconomic conditions, and systemic barriers shape career development. Grounded in critical theory, feminism, Marxism, and postcolonialism, these approaches critique dominant paradigms and frame career as a political and ethical project. Drawing on critical psychology, relational sociology, and postmodern discourse, they interrogate the distribution of power, knowledge, and opportunity. Justice is conceptualised in redistributive, epistemic, and participatory terms. These theories offer alternative frameworks for practice, promoting collective agency, critical reflexivity, and community-based action. They reposition career guidance as a transformative intervention with the potential to address inequality and support social change.