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

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.

The book opens by setting the foundation by examining definitions of class, discussing its impact on identity, and summarizing the literature on class and what it can tell us about the complexities of class identity, its fluidity, sometimes performative nature, and the sense of dissonance it can provoke.

This book brings social class identity to the forefront of our consciousness, conversations, and behaviors and compels those in the academy to recognize classism and reimagine higher education to welcome and support those from poor and working class backgrounds. Its concluding chapter proposes means for both increasing social class consciousness and social class inclusivity in the academy. It is a compelling read for everyone in the academy, not least for those from poor or working class backgrounds who will find validation and recognition and draw strength from its vivid stories.

Sonja Ardoin, Ph.D. is a learner, educator, facilitator, and author. Proud of her rural hometown of Vidrine, Louisiana, her working-class, Cajun roots, and her first-generation college student to PhD journey, Sonja holds degrees from LSU, Florida State, and NC State. A self-described scholar-practitioner, Sonja served as an administrator for 10 years before shifting to the faculty in 2015 and currently serves as associate professor of higher education and student affairs at Clemson University. Her career path includes experience in academic administration, academic advising, community engagement, fraternity and sorority life, leadership development, student activities, and student conduct. Sonja studies social class identity in higher education; college access and success for rural and first-generation college students; student and women’s leadership; and professional preparation and career pathways in higher education and student affairs. She stays engaged in the broader field through presenting, facilitating, and volunteering with ACPA, AFLV, ASHE, the Center for First-generation Student Success, NASPA, and several journal editorial boards. Learn more about Sonja at https://www.sonjaardoin.com/.

dr. becky martinez is a class-straddling Mixed Race Woman of Color who loves engaging in social class and class(ism). She humbly comes from a family of farmers that now finds herself a first-generation white-collar professional and is still working through what that means. In her professional capacity, becky is an organization development consultant and trainer with a focus on social justice, leadership and organizational change with Infinity Martinez Consulting and a faculty member with the Social Justice Training Institute. Her work centers on dismantling systems of oppression through critical reflection and dialogue intertwined with theoretical models and key concepts. She is passionate about systems thinking while working with campuses, government agencies and community-based organizations to be more equitable with their policies, practices and procedures through an inclusion lens. Prior to consultancy, she was an administrator within the California State University and the University of California systems as well as private liberal arts colleges. She is a Co-Lead facilitator for the LeaderShape Institute, has been a certified trainer for the Anti-Defamation League and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, and a certified counselor-advocate through Peace over Violence in Los Angeles. Connect further with becky and her work at www.infinitymartinez.com.

Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, President, Washington Consulting Group (WCG); President & Co-Founder, Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI); President (2019), ACPA – College Student Educators International.