From Labouring to Learning: Working-Class Masculinities, Education and De-Industrialization (Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education)

Since the late 1970s, global industrial changes have affected the transition to adulthood, particularly for working-class men who now require more educational qualifications than previously to gain employment. This book examines how the young men in a de-industrialized community are adapting to this situation and the problems they face. "From Labouring to Learning: Working-Class Masculinities, Education and De-Industrialization explores how economic changes and the growing importance of educational qualifications in a shrinking labour market, particularly effects marginalized young men. It follows a group of young working-class men in a de-industrial community and challenges commonly held representations that often appear in the media and in policy discourses which portray them as feckless, out of control, educational failures and lacking aspiration. Ward argues that for a group of young men in a community of social and economic deprivation, expectations and transitions to adulthood are framed through the industrial legacy of geographically and historically shaped class and gender codes. These codes have an impact on what it means to be a man and what behaviour is deemed acceptable and what is not."-- Provided by publisher Highly Commended In The Society Of Educational Studies Book Prize This Book Explores How Economic Changes And The Growing Importance Of Educational Qualifications In A Shrinking Labour Market, Particularly Effects Marginalized Young Men. It Follows A Group Of Young Working-class Men In A De-industrial Community And Challenges Commonly Held Representations That Often Appear In The Media And In Policy Discourses Which Portray Them As Feckless, Out Of Control, Educational Failures And Lacking Aspiration. Ward Argues That For A Group Of Young Men In A Community Of Social And Economic Deprivation, Expectations And Transitions To Adulthood Are Framed Through The Industrial Legacy Of Geographically And Historically Shaped Class And Gender Codes. These Codes Have An Impact On What It Means To Be A Man And What Behaviour Is Deemed Acceptable And What Is Not. Cover -1 Contents 7 List of Tables 8 Series Preface 9 Acknowledgements 10 Prologue 12 1 Introduction 15 2 The Valleys: History, Modernity and Masculinities 35 3 The Valley Boiz: Re-Traditionalizing Masculinity 53 4 The Geeks: Studious Working-Class Masculinities 86 5 The Emos: Alternative Masculinities? 109 6 Working-Class Masculinities in Vocational Education and Training Courses 120 7 Jimmy the Chameleon: Multiple Performances of Self 143 8 Conclusion: Growing Up into Uncertain Futures 163 Epilogue 173 Appendix 1: ‘Doing’ Ethnography: Understanding, Researching and Representing Young Working-Class Masculinities 175 Appendix 2 189 Notes 192 References 196 Index 214 Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-20 The Valleys: History, Modernity and Masculinities....Pages 21-38 The Valley Boiz: Re-Traditionalizing Masculinity....Pages 39-71 The Geeks: Studious Working-Class Masculinities....Pages 72-94 The Emos: Alternative Masculinities?....Pages 95-105 Working-Class Masculinities in Vocational Education and Training Courses....Pages 106-128 Jimmy the Chameleon: Multiple Performances of Self....Pages 129-148 Conclusion: Growing Up into Uncertain Futures....Pages 149-158 Epilogue....Pages 159-160 Back Matter....Pages 161-207