Unseen and Unheard: Investigating Invisibility in Vocational Psychology Through a Systemic Lens

Abstract

The concept of invisibility represents an important but often ignored barrier in the career development of marginalized individuals. By utilizing a systemic approach, we explore the ways in which marginalized groups are rendered invisible. Through examining research in the field of vocational psychology, we highlight the gap in the literature regarding the neglect of the systemic perspective when addressing issues of invisibility in the career and work context. Additionally, we introduce the (in)visibility vortex framework, which provides a potentially valuable perspective on the systemic factors that perpetuate invisibility within the workplace settings. Alongside concrete suggestions for utilizing the framework in studying invisibility within vocational psychology, we propose multiple avenues of potential future research and practice implications regarding systemic invisibility, with the goal of studying and facilitating more inclusive and equitable environments for individuals from marginalized backgrounds.