Working-class academics learn to dress differently, to speak differently, to develop different interests and tastes—ones that conform to expectations and signal that we belong. Over the years, I’ve learned that when academics say they read something “in the paper,” they usually mean The New York Times, not the Akron Beacon Journal or the Cleveland Plain Dealer. I’ve learned that “having a cup of coffee” does not mean that one is enjoying a steaming mug of Taster’s Choice, that most everyone’s jeans cost more than $20, that not having a passport is unsophisticated. I learned to change some of my habits and to react silently and invisibly when faced with a gap in my knowledge. I learned, in short, to perform my role. Jacqui Shine on fire, this morning.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:30:37 +0000
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