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.