Table Of ContentHigher Education and
Working-Class Academics
Precarity and Diversity in
Academia
Teresa Crew
Higher Education and Working-Class Academics
“This is a clear, insightful study of working-class academics that does much more
than fill a gap in the literature. It breathes intersectional life into the experiences of
people short of material and cultural resources who are endeavouring to come to
terms with academic identity and precarity without the benefit of a safety net. If
you believe in equality and justice in higher education, read this book.”
—Graham Scambler, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University College
London, UK
“This book is a passionate and lyrical account of the workings of class and inequal-
ity in higher education. Drawing on the narratives of working class academics, it
paints a powerfully and compelling picture of the everyday systematic injustices
faced by those from working class backgrounds who never lose a sense of being
outsiders. The book also shows the way forward, calling for a real democratization
of our universities, one based on mutual support, solidarity and the valuing of
working class pedagogies.”
—Diane Reay, Professor of Education, Cambridge University, UK
“Reading this book as a working class academic was not easy, flashes of personal
experience of microaggressions, exclusion, and ridicule were in every page. I would
urge every Vice Chancellor, head of department and Student Representative to
read this book—and to think about their working class students, and staff with
more care.”
—Lisa McKenzie, Assis Professor of Sociology, Durham University, UK
Teresa Crew
Higher Education
and Working-Class
Academics
Precarity and Diversity in Academia
Teresa Crew
School of Social Sciences
Bangor University
Bangor, UK
ISBN 978-3-030-58351-4 ISBN 978-3-030-58352-1 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58352-1
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To Nick, Jade and Zoe, as well as Elliot and Hunter who are my everything.
A
cknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the following people.
My deepest appreciation to the academics for took part in this research.
I’m indebted to you all. It has been brilliant to meet so many working class
academics who challenge the negative stereotypes. I’ve met many friends
along the way.
I’d like to thank Dr Kate Carruthers Thomas for her wonderful artwork
that added an extra dimension to the book.
My heartfelt thanks to Emma, Ryan, Ewan, Lisa and Chloe who helped
me transcribe these long interviews. As well as to Collette and Lisa who
worked for me on a separate project that gave me the chance to concen-
trate on this book.
I’m extremely grateful to my friends at Bangor University who have
made me feel welcome since day one.
I’d also like to extend my gratitude to the team at Palgrave Macmillan
who helped this book become a reality, especially Becky.
Thank you to my students past and present. We should never forget the
funds of knowledge that our students bring to university.
I have met wonderful people in academia. Diane Reay and Kimberle
Crenshaw were everything I hoped they would be. Thank you to Simon,
for supporting female academics, and to my friends Jenny and Laura, who
are brilliant inspirational women!
vii
viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Finally, to my family. Thank you to my Dad for his love and support,
and for always being proud. Thank you to my mum for her love, support
and for ‘teaching me to read’. Thank you Jade and Zoe who are daughters
to be proud off. I can’t wait to go for lunch with you both. And to Nick.
Thank you for your intellectual challenges, and your constant love and
support.
c
ontents
1 I ntroduction 1
2 A Working-Class Academic Identity 19
3 Precarity 45
4 Hostile Encounters 69
5 Supporting Students 95
6 A Working-Class Academic Pedagogy 111
7 Looking Back and Moving Forward 129
Appendix 143
Index 145
ix
l f
ist of igures
Fig. 1.1 ‘Rucksack’ 1
Fig. 2.1 ‘Chameleon’ 19
Fig. 3.1 ‘Precarity’ 45
Fig. 4.1 ‘Mask’ 69
Fig. 5.1 ‘Role Models’ 95
Fig. 6.1 ‘Pedagogy’ 111
Fig. 7.1 ‘Staff’ 129
xi
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Fig. 1.1 ‘Rucksack’
© The Author(s) 2020 1
T. Crew, Higher Education and Working-Class Academics,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58352-1_1
