Social Resilience in the Labour Market: Learning from Young Adults with Visual Impairments in Oslo and Delhi

Gagan Chhabra

doi:10.1177/1103308820977397

Abstract

Globally, young adults with visual impairments (YAVI) encounter multiple employment barriers. However, many circumscribe the risk of labour market exclusion and secure gainful employment. This article surfaces protective factors that enable some qualified YAVI from Oslo and Delhi to participate in the labour market. It answers what similar individual and structural protective factors enable YAVI to overcome employment barriers in Oslo and Delhi. The article is theoretically couched in the three dimensions of social resilience linked to the individual’s coping, adaptive and transformative capacities, which are mediated by formal institutions, that is, disability organizations and public employment agencies. This comparative article is based on a qualitative case study wherein 29 YAVI were interviewed. It sparks a much-needed cross-national dialogue within youth studies and disability research to view YAVI as resourceful agents and not passive actors.

Highlights

The youth studies literature has for long discussed the challenges concerning labour transition for young adults, as such transitions have become protracted, non-linear, risk-laden, fragmented, chaotic and more individualized (Brzinsky-Fay, 2007; Coles, YOUNG2018; Goodwin & O’Connor, 2005; Walther, 2006; Woodman, 2012)
Youth research entailing vision-impaired youth has inordinately focused on employment barrier amelioration; limited emphasis has been accorded to their experiences associated with employment success (Gregorius, 2014; Shaw et al, 2007)
The purpose of this comparative article is to move beyond the discussion of barriers, constraints and limitations and offer positive perspectives grounded in individual capabilities and structural resources which enable a few qualified young adults with visual impairments (YAVI) to secure employment in Oslo and Delhi

Summary

Introduction

The youth studies literature has for long discussed the challenges concerning labour transition for young adults, as such transitions have become protracted, non-linear, risk-laden, fragmented, chaotic and more individualized Youth research entailing vision-impaired youth has inordinately focused on employment barrier amelioration; limited emphasis has been accorded to their experiences associated with employment success (Gregorius, 2014; Shaw et al, 2007) The purpose of this comparative article is to move beyond the discussion of barriers, constraints and limitations and offer positive perspectives grounded in individual capabilities and structural resources which enable a few qualified YAVI to secure employment in Oslo and Delhi. The concept of social resilience offers a critical and normative framework to comprehend the significance of contextual factors (Bussi et al, 2019; Keck & Sakdapolrak, 2013) It encompasses the influence of protective factors across the individual, relational, community and cultural levels on accumulating human capital and overcoming adversities (Hvinden et al, 2019; Murray, 2003; Ungar, 2008). Notwithstanding the contextual differences, YAVI encounter labour market precariousness in both Oslo (Berge, 2007; Opinion, 2018) and Delhi (Chhabra, 2020; Singal & Jain, 2012; Singal et al, 2011)

Methods

Physical trainer in the non-governmental 1 sector

Concluding Remarks