11

The Role of Work Values

and Cultural Values in

Occupational Choice,

Satisfaction, and Success

A Theoretical Statement

Duane Brown

Career development theorists have all but ignored the career devel-
opment of ethnic and cultural minorities (Brooks, 1990; Cheatham,
1990; Isaacson & D. Brown, 2000; Osipow & Littlejohn, 1995).
One result of this neglect is that current career development theo-
ries provide little in the way of theoretical guidelines for practice or
research (Betz & Fitzgerald, 1995; Leong, 1995a). However, Leong
(1995b) assembled a group of scholars who reviewed the empirical
literature regarding the career development of ethnic and racial
minorities and made suggestions for the revision of some of the
major theories of occupational choice and career development
(Arbona, 1995; M. Brown, 1995; Johnson, Swartz, & Martin, 1995;
Leong & Serifica, 1995). Although the suggestions generated by
this group may be helpful to career counselors and researchers, the
major theories have not been revised and no new theories have
been advanced.

465

Much of the theoretical portion of this chapter appeared in the Journal of Counseling and
Development;used by permission of the American Counseling Association.