ERIC Number: EJ1396089
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0161-827X
EISSN: EISSN-2470-9220
Examining How Working-Class Resident Advisors Perceive Social Class and Classism within Residential Life
Bettencourt, Genia M.; Perez, Brittany E.
Journal of College and University Student Housing, v49 n1 p70-83 2022
Social class on campus is omnipresent, with higher education institutions largely geared towards middle- and upper-class students. The social class contrast can be particularly poignant in the residence halls, where choice of hall and room type, personal possessions, and cocurricular involvement can all indicate one's class background. Simultaneously, for working-class students, the resident advisor (RA) position is often viewed as a more desirable student employment option due to its combination of a high-profile leadership role and sizable compensation package. In this study, we examine how RAs from working-class backgrounds experience social class and classism within residential life. Using data from a larger narrative inquiry study on pathways into and through higher education for working-class students, we examine the experiences of seven working-class RAs working at two large public research institutions in the Northeast. Our findings show a series of tension points where the RA position provides important support for working-class students, but within limited parameters across financial, social justice, and community foci. We conclude with implications for practice to better support working-class RAs in their positions. [Discussion questions developed by Amy Paciej-Woodruff.]
Descriptors: Resident Advisers, College Students, Social Class, Student Attitudes, Social Bias, College Housing, Student Employment, Student Financial Aid, Paying for College
Association of College and University Housing Officers - International. 1445 Summit Street, Columbus, Ohio 43201. Tel: 614-292-0099; Fax: 614-292-3205; e-mail: office@acuho-i.org; Web site: http://www.acuho-i.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A