Are we more than just Glorified Paddle Holders?

If you were to ask the average person what constitutes a profession, you’d get a variety of answers and a few confused looks. While we use the term often in our daily life, it isn’t as common for us to provide definitions for seemingly well-understood ideas. I think if we could narrow down the common perception of a profession, it would be the use of a certain skill set for a certain job with a common standard of excellence. Of course, this isn’t a terribly specific way to describe the term so let’s cue the semantics of sociologists to help. 

While there has been numerous takes on what defines a profession, the most recent criteria listed in Structure magazine’s November 2008 issue was written by Michael Bayles. Bayles believed that there are three necessary features that qualify a profession: it must require “(i) extensive training that (ii) involves a significant intellectual component and (iii) puts one in a position to provide an important service to society.” I believe this is the most accurate and minimal description. Previously, Ernest Greenwood had suggested that all professions must possess systematic theory or abstract knowledge, authority over their services, community sanction, ethical codes, and a culture. While some features like an ethical code and culture that holds practices to a certain esteem are important to maintain consistency, his focus on abstract knowledge seems misplaced and with respect to authority, generic. So, while I agree with some points, I do not believe all professions must have all of the valued attributes.

Understanding how sociologists have viewed professions and what is entailed in being an outdoor adventure guide, I would say that guiding is absolutely a professional career. Guides generally need extensive training that consists of a large body of knowledge both practical and theoretical, they provide a valuable service to society, and there is a growing trend towards standardized expectations and certifications within the industry. Given the associated risks and the large gap between the skill and knowledge of the guide and the client, it's of utmost importance for guides to uphold a high standard of practice that we would associate with professionalism; to do otherwise is to risk the safety and well-being of the client and the guide's livelihood. Since these traits match closely with those set out by Greenwood and Bayles, they, in my opinion, validate outdoor guiding as a profession.

References

Schmidt, J. (2008, November). What is a Profession? Structure Magazine, 9.   

Retrieved from: http://www.structuremag.org