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Straddling Class in the Academy: 26 Stories of Students, Administrators, and Faculty from Poor and Working Class Backgrounds and Their Compelling Lessons for Higher Education Policy and Practice
" Straddling Class in theAcademy is an important book, filled with honest and powerful narrativesfrom students, staff and faculty. It expands our understanding of poor andworking class backgrounds and informs our next steps in addressing the dynamicsof social class in our college classrooms and workspaces. Read this book anddiscover truths that confirm our own reality about social class on campus, challenge us to think differently, and compel us to take action."
--Paulette M. Dalpes, Vice President of Student Affairs, Community College of Aurora
"Ardoin and martinez have compiled a vital resource for all in academia. Together with their co-authors, theyprovide invaluable first-hand accounts that help readers take ownership oftheir own class identity while also providing possibility models and pathwaysfor persistence. Perhaps the largest contribution this book makes to highereducation is that it provides narratives and tools to build campuses that serveequitably across class. This book is a must-read for all in highereducation."--Peter Paquette, Dean of Students, Coastal Carolina University
Why do we feel uncomfortable talking about class? Why is it taboo? Why do people often address class through coded terminology like trashy, classy, and snobby? How does discriminatory language, or how do conscious or unconscious derogatory attitudes, or the anticipation of such behaviors, impact those from poor and working class backgrounds when they straddle class?
Through 26 narratives of individuals from poor and working class backgrounds - ranging from students, to multiple levels of administrators and faculty, both tenured and non-tenured - this book provides a vivid understanding of how people can experience and straddle class in the middle, upper, or even elitist class contexts of the academy.
Through the powerful stories of individuals who hold many different identities--and naming a range of ways they identify in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, ability, and religion, among others--this book shows how social class identity and classism impact people's experience in higher education and why we should focus more attention on this dimension of identity.
A concluding chapter proposes means for both increasing social class consciousness and social class inclusivity in the academy.
--Paulette M. Dalpes, Vice President of Student Affairs, Community College of Aurora
"Ardoin and martinez have compiled a vital resource for all in academia. Together with their co-authors, theyprovide invaluable first-hand accounts that help readers take ownership oftheir own class identity while also providing possibility models and pathwaysfor persistence. Perhaps the largest contribution this book makes to highereducation is that it provides narratives and tools to build campuses that serveequitably across class. This book is a must-read for all in highereducation."--Peter Paquette, Dean of Students, Coastal Carolina University
Why do we feel uncomfortable talking about class? Why is it taboo? Why do people often address class through coded terminology like trashy, classy, and snobby? How does discriminatory language, or how do conscious or unconscious derogatory attitudes, or the anticipation of such behaviors, impact those from poor and working class backgrounds when they straddle class?
Through 26 narratives of individuals from poor and working class backgrounds - ranging from students, to multiple levels of administrators and faculty, both tenured and non-tenured - this book provides a vivid understanding of how people can experience and straddle class in the middle, upper, or even elitist class contexts of the academy.
Through the powerful stories of individuals who hold many different identities--and naming a range of ways they identify in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, ability, and religion, among others--this book shows how social class identity and classism impact people's experience in higher education and why we should focus more attention on this dimension of identity.
A concluding chapter proposes means for both increasing social class consciousness and social class inclusivity in the academy.
- GenresEducationNonfiction
240 pages, ebook
Published May 31, 2019
7 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 15, 2021
Great book. I'll admit though that when I first read the opening chapters I had to put the book down because the themes hit too close to home. Didn't pick up again for two years! For real. But I revisited it and I'm glad that I did. Very important work.
May 16, 2021
The book started off strong but the stories get repetitive, the end-of-chapter summaries by the authors don’t really add much to the reader’s experience, and the concluding chapters aren’t that helpful. The second-to-last chapter includes a disappointing conversation about intersectionality that in its attempt to honor Crenshaw still doesn’t accurately describe her work (weirdly mostly by ignoring the role of class in her work), and the concluding chapter tries to provide concrete steps for action but mostly reads like “don’t be scared to talk about class.”
There are powerful stories and insights scattered throughout the book, and the topic IS important and too often ignored, but I’m not sure this is the book to spark real change about how we think and act re: class in higher education.
There are powerful stories and insights scattered throughout the book, and the topic IS important and too often ignored, but I’m not sure this is the book to spark real change about how we think and act re: class in higher education.
June 28, 2023
Straddling Class in the Academy— Sonja Ardoin ( chapters separated into — sections) March 23-April 28, 2023
Sonja Ardoin and beck martinez put this book together to emphasize marginalized people’s experiences navigating the academic world. They break it down to students; grad students; persons in their early careers; and persons in advanced careers. All narratives were academically centered, although, in the last section, there is an example of someone who left academia to spend time with family.
At my institute, this book was our DEI book for the year. Out of all the books we’ve read for this group, this was my favorite. It was approachable with the first-person stories, and I identified with several of the situations depicted in them. I had never seen myself this way, but after reading this book, it is obvious that the authors are my family.
What children see when they are young and grow up frequently differs in the real world. Stepping into academia is often like stepping into a new life with completely different rules and classes.
I try to attend every DEI book club that I can, and though I knew nothing about this book other than becky martinez was one of the editors (I have liked other books written by her), it might be an interesting read. It was an outstanding read from an (originally different point of view.) I work in academia as a web developer, and I need to try to walk in others’ shoes so that I may make the web pages I develop more accessible.
This is a book that, while many schools in Red states and Red congresses across the country are trying to diminish, is important to read because the narratives are all our narratives. Diminishing these voices (as one student narrative opined) leaves out lessons we can all learn from collectively. Silencing them silences our history and theirs too.
Five stars.
Sonja Ardoin and beck martinez put this book together to emphasize marginalized people’s experiences navigating the academic world. They break it down to students; grad students; persons in their early careers; and persons in advanced careers. All narratives were academically centered, although, in the last section, there is an example of someone who left academia to spend time with family.
At my institute, this book was our DEI book for the year. Out of all the books we’ve read for this group, this was my favorite. It was approachable with the first-person stories, and I identified with several of the situations depicted in them. I had never seen myself this way, but after reading this book, it is obvious that the authors are my family.
What children see when they are young and grow up frequently differs in the real world. Stepping into academia is often like stepping into a new life with completely different rules and classes.
I try to attend every DEI book club that I can, and though I knew nothing about this book other than becky martinez was one of the editors (I have liked other books written by her), it might be an interesting read. It was an outstanding read from an (originally different point of view.) I work in academia as a web developer, and I need to try to walk in others’ shoes so that I may make the web pages I develop more accessible.
This is a book that, while many schools in Red states and Red congresses across the country are trying to diminish, is important to read because the narratives are all our narratives. Diminishing these voices (as one student narrative opined) leaves out lessons we can all learn from collectively. Silencing them silences our history and theirs too.
Five stars.
July 27, 2020
I absolutely loved this book, my physical copy is full of flags and highlights of novel information and highly relatable experiences. While I typically have a difficult time with being able to say that I enjoyed all stories in a multi-person book, each of the stories held my full attention and helped me to consider aspects of the student experience I may otherwise dismiss or not consider because I did not experience the same thing in my own experience as a first-gen, low income student. I loved that each contributor discussed their intersecting identities and how those played (or didn't play) a role in their class experience.
I think Straddling Class in the Academy did a great job of including diverse voices from undergraduate students to senior level administrators and those who have previously been in the academy but have left. There were voices from White folx as well as POC and who had varying sexual orientation and gender identities. The lessons presented in each story were very valuable and showcased a wide array of experiences and what social class can include.
Not only does this include stories from real people, it also has supporting data for the need for class to be a continued conversation and area of research in higher education, shares common themes and threads throughout each section (then through the whole book), and gives institutions ideas on how to be more inclusive to those who may be from poor and working class backgrounds.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it has given me so much to continue to think about in the fight for equity and inclusion in the academy.
My only critique is that I wish there were more stories to read.
I think Straddling Class in the Academy did a great job of including diverse voices from undergraduate students to senior level administrators and those who have previously been in the academy but have left. There were voices from White folx as well as POC and who had varying sexual orientation and gender identities. The lessons presented in each story were very valuable and showcased a wide array of experiences and what social class can include.
Not only does this include stories from real people, it also has supporting data for the need for class to be a continued conversation and area of research in higher education, shares common themes and threads throughout each section (then through the whole book), and gives institutions ideas on how to be more inclusive to those who may be from poor and working class backgrounds.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it has given me so much to continue to think about in the fight for equity and inclusion in the academy.
My only critique is that I wish there were more stories to read.
August 10, 2019
The authors have compiled and analyzed the stories of a variety of people who are now pursuing careers in and around colleges and universities. These people were low-income students while in college. The stories show that, while a college degree can lift someone out of poverty, or from "getting by" "living with ease", it doesn't erase the impact of growing up in a low-income household. The contributors share tales for trouble adjusting, cognitive dissonance between the lives they grew up with and the lives they lead now, and the challenges that come with breaking into a new social class. A tremendously interesting read for anyone interested in education access or reducing inequality.
May 3, 2020
I'm biased, but very important topic and stories. Love the variety of places within the academy and unique experiences, but would have liked to see some diversity in other areas. Wasn't too much of a surprise for those of us who live(d) it but I can see how others would need to read a chapter or two to "get it" although I do fear that some readers might dismiss this given the soapbox approach from some of the narrators.
March 17, 2020
Powerful important book on making higher ed more inclusive and just. Center social class in our discussions of diversity, equity, and inclusion. NOW.
March 14, 2024
Random Douglas library find. Very cool, useful, important, validating, respectful book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews