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Class Cultures and Social Mobility
The Hidden Strengths of Working-Class First-Generation Graduates
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Paul Dean
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2026
About this book
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.
Author / Editor information
PAUL DEAN is an associate professor of sociology and anthropology at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He is coauthor of the book Globalization: A Basic Text.
Reviews
"A well-written, interesting, timely, and emotionally engaging book. Dean makes great use of his own experiences and those of his interviewees, presenting complex sociological concepts and findings simply and in a straightforward, engaging way."— Elizabeth Lee, coauthor of Geographies of Campus Inequality: Mapping the Diverse Experiences of First-Generation St
"This book is so well written! It would be excellent for undergraduate courses as it is rooted in the literature and rich with original data. Class Cultures and Social Mobility shines a bright light on the 'hidden strengths' people raised in working-class homes bring to their middle-class worlds."— Annette Lareau, author of Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
November 11, 2025
eBook ISBN:
9781978845824
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781978845824
Keywords for this book
class; class culture; social class; social mobility; working-class; working class; first gen; first generation; first-generation graduates; first gen grads; Paul Dean; Critical Issues in American Education; education; american studies; labor studies; workforce; sociology; american history; us studies; us history; inclusive education; social science; social classes; social standing; higher education; university; college; college graduates; graduation; first-gen students; college students; professional workforce; working-class people; classism; codeswitching; working straddlers; cultural empathy; non fiction; non-fiction; nonfiction; assimilation; class; class culture; social class; social mobility; working-class; working class; first gen; first generation; first-generation graduates; first gen grads; Paul Dean; Critical Issues in American Education; education; american studies; labor studies; workforce; sociology; american history; us studies; us history; inclusive education; social science; social classes; social standing; higher education; university; college; college graduates; graduation; first-gen students; college students; professional workforce; working-class people; classism; codeswitching; working straddlers; cultural empathy; non fiction; non-fiction; nonfiction; assimilation
Audience(s) for this book
For universities and colleges of further and higher education
