University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 6-29-2016 Blue-Collar Scholars: Bridging Academic and Working-Class Worlds Nathan Lee Hodges University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Communication Commons, and the Other Education Commons Scholar Commons Citation Hodges, Nathan Lee, "Blue-Collar Scholars: Bridging Academic and Working-Class Worlds" (2016). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6256 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Blue-Collar Scholars: Bridging Academic and Working-Class Worlds by Nathan Hodges A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Communication College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Arthur Bochner, Ph.D. Carolyn Ellis, Ph.D. Keith Berry, Ph.D. Shawn Bingham, Ph.D. Date of Approval: May 24, 2016 Keywords: First-generation college students, working class, social class, identity negotiation, family research, autoethnography Copyright © 2016, Nathan Hodges ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thank you reader for being brave enough to pick up a book this large. Hopefully you’re using it for reading, though I suppose it could double as a weapon. This dissertation would have never been finished without my family. Not only were they an important biological step, they continue to show love and encouragement for me, and to share our story honestly. This dissertation also would have been a miserable shell of what it is without my committee, especially Art Bochner, whose 356-pages of handwritten edit, Track Changes, and novel-length emails created panic, self-loathing, and ultimately a much better dissertation. Love you all! Kisses and belly rubs for Winston, Buddy, Buddha, and Zen. i TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iv Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ v Chapter One: Proposing a Dissertation ........................................................................................... 1 Proposal Defense ................................................................................................................. 1 Manchester College Graduation ........................................................................................ 10 Working-Class Academic Narratives ................................................................................ 13 Empowering FGC Students ............................................................................................... 16 Methods ............................................................................................................................. 17 Relational Ethics ................................................................................................................ 20 Chapter Previews ............................................................................................................... 23 Chapter Two: Childhood ............................................................................................................... 27 School Days ....................................................................................................................... 38 Justice For My Balls .......................................................................................................... 30 Porch Fight ........................................................................................................................ 31 Trailer Shame .................................................................................................................... 32 Weighed Down .................................................................................................................. 33 Trampoline Championship ................................................................................................ 36 Snake In The Grass ............................................................................................................ 39 Montgomery County Meth Epidemic ................................................................................ 42 Jerrod ................................................................................................................................. 44 Weighing Myself Down .................................................................................................... 46 Algebra Playground ........................................................................................................... 52 Class Clowning .................................................................................................................. 56 Family Violence ................................................................................................................ 58 Southmont Graduation And Manchester Application ....................................................... 61 Chapter Three: Manchester Beginnings ........................................................................................ 63 Vulnerable Leadership ....................................................................................................... 65 Class Struggles .................................................................................................................. 65 Chapter Four: Manufacturing Stories ............................................................................................ 68 Rolling Uphill .................................................................................................................... 70 Rolling Downhill ............................................................................................................... 84 Chapter Five: Manchester Mentors ............................................................................................... 86 Judd Case And The Learning Bug ..................................................................................... 88 Class As Embodied ............................................................................................................ 91 ii Working With Jeri ............................................................................................................. 92 Language And Thought ..................................................................................................... 96 Grad School And The Switzers ....................................................................................... 103 Chatting With Dave ......................................................................................................... 104 Chapter Six: Uncle Jim’s Shadow ............................................................................................... 116 April 5, 2014 .................................................................................................................... 116 April 6, 2014 .................................................................................................................... 118 April 8, 2014 .................................................................................................................... 119 June 6, 2014 ..................................................................................................................... 125 June 13, 2014 ................................................................................................................... 128 Chapter Seven: The American Dental Dream ............................................................................. 141 Teeth Tales ...................................................................................................................... 143 Sharing Teeth Tales ......................................................................................................... 160 Chapter Eight: A Multi-Voiced Academic Conference Tale ...................................................... 165 Blue-Collar Scholar Panel ............................................................................................... 166 Chapter Nine: Whiskey Nights with Yub .................................................................................... 174 May 30, 2015 ................................................................................................................... 182 July 31, 2015 ................................................................................................................... 195 Chapter Ten: Discovering Darlington ......................................................................................... 198 Interviewing Mom ........................................................................................................... 209 High School Emails ......................................................................................................... 223 Darlington Stories ............................................................................................................ 227 Interviewing Mom Again ................................................................................................ 251 Difference And Love