“Always In My Face”: An Exploration of Social Class Consciousness, Salience, and Values

Authors

Georgianna L. Martin, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-28-2015

School

Education

Abstract

This qualitative study explores social class consciousness, salience, and values of White, lowincome, first-generation college students. Overall, participants minimized the salience of social class as an aspect of their identity with many of them expressing that they did not want their social class to define them. Although participants largely did not feel as if social class was an important aspect of their identity, it became clear through their stories that this aspect of their identity influenced how they viewed themselves, the world around them, and their higher SES peers in college. Implications for higher education research and practice are discussed.

Publication Title

Journal of College Student Development

Volume

56

Issue

5

First Page

471

Last Page

487

Recommended Citation

Martin, G. (2015). “Always In My Face”: An Exploration of Social Class Consciousness, Salience, and Values. Journal of College Student Development, 56(5), 471-487.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/18756