Class Cultures and Social Mobility : The Hidden Strengths of Working-Class First-Generation Graduates

Class Cultures and Social Mobility tells the stories of people who grew up working-class, became the first members of their family to graduate from college, and undertook professional work that serves working-class people.Drawing upon personal narratives to appeal to both academics and first-gen students themselves, this book charts the class journeys of people across a wide range of occupational fields.Their stories illustrate how members of the professional workforce draw upon their working-class roots to construct meaningful careers aimed at building stability, mobility, and fulfillment for the next generation of working-class people.While their working-class origins presented significant barriers along their career trajectories, they also found ways to leverage their roots in their professional work.Through their stories, the author reveals the power of working-class cultural capital-how their unique knowledge, skillsets, and dispositions enabled them to leverage their humble beginnings as a strength for both themselves and their communities.