Working-class women study social science degrees: remembering enablers and detractors |
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Authors: | Heather Fraser Liz Beddoe Michele Jarldorn |
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Institution: | 1. Social and Policy Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia;2. Counselling, Human Services and Social Work, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | In this article, we report on a feminist memory work project conducted with 11 working-class women in Australia. Participants responded to the question: what helps and hinders working-class women study social science degrees? The women confirmed that to succeed at university, they needed opportunities, resources, support and encouragement. We called these enablers and considered the role of ‘enlightened witnesses’ Miller, 1997. The essential role of an enlightened witness in society. Retrieved from http://www.alice-miller.com/index_en.php?page=2]. Hindering the possibility of university success were detractors of many forms including inadequate resources and social conventions that discouraged the women from study. We describe saboteurs as undermining people and forces that the women had to overcome. We found that enlightened witnesses, broadly conceptualised, go some way but not all, to mitigating detractors and saboteurs that continue to hamper fair and meritocratic access to tertiary education. |
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Keywords: | Detractors enablers enlightened witnesses higher education saboteurs social sciences widening participation working-class women |
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