Implications of the Null Environment Hypothesis for Women's Career Development and for Counseling Psychology

Abstract

It is argued that a null educational environment (Freeman, 1979) that ignores individuals is inherently discriminatory against women because external societal environments are different for men and women with respect to the amount of encouragement they receive for nontraditional career aspirations and achievements. This argument is supported by references to the literature and by describing the effects of a null environment on the career development of the author. Implications for counseling include (a) advocating a more directive approach with women to combat both a differentiating socialization history and a null environment and (b) generalizing this approach to the goal of helping all clients develop their individual potential in the face of societal pressures contrary to individual self-actualization.