The meanings of higher education degree and gender roles

Abstract

The article discusses the meanings of the higher education degree for those known and self-proclaimed as the “first generation” of graduates of a family. Specifically, it highlights how the higher credential was associated with significant inflections of gender roles that were expected for women and men from working-class backgrounds. The narratives, obtained through in-depth interviews, revealed stereotypes of gender, class and race, which were analyzed, in the present text, in dialogue with the field of intersectional studies.

Keywords:
first-generation college graduates; intersectionality; gender roles; higher education