Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 74

Examining How Working-Class
Resident Advisors Perceive Social Class
and Classism Within Residential Life
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.
I
n the United States, pursuit of higher education is often viewed as a means for
social mobility by providing individuals with access to degree credentials and
competitive career pathways. However, enduring gaps remain in how students access,
experience, and persist within postsecondary institutions based on social class
(Armstrong & Hamilton, 2013; Stuber, 2011; Walpole, 2007), which can be defined
as " a relative social ranking based on income, wealth, education, status, and power "
(Leondar-Wright & Yeskel, 2007, p. 314). Such rankings form the basis of classism, a
system of oppression perpetuated through institutional, cultural, and individual practices
that privilege affluent individuals and marginalize the poor and working class
(Leondar-Wright & Yeskel, 2007). While social class has been defined in a myriad of
ways across higher education scholarship-most notably through the designation of
first-generation college students and/or low-income students-these categorizations
Volume 49, No. 1 * 2022 71

Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1

Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 1
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 2
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 3
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 4
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 5
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 6
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 7
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 8
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 9
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 10
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 11
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 12
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 13
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 14
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 15
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 16
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 17
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 18
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 19
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 20
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 21
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 22
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 23
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 24
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 25
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 26
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 27
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 28
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 29
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 30
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 31
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 32
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 33
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 34
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 35
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 36
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 37
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 38
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 39
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 40
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 41
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 42
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 43
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 44
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 45
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 46
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 47
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 48
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 49
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 50
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 51
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 52
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 53
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 54
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 55
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 56
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 57
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 58
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 59
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 60
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 61
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 62
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 63
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 64
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 65
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 66
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 67
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 68
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 69
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 70
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 71
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 72
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 73
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 74
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 75
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 76
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 77
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 78
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 79
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 80
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 81
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 82
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 83
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 84
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 85
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 86
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 87
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 88
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 89
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 90
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 91
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 92
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 93
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 94
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 95
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 96
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 97
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 98
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 99
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 100
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 101
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 102
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 103
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 104
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 105
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 106
Journal of College & University Student Housing Vol 49, No. 1 - 107
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol50no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol50no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol50no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol49no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol49no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol48no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol49no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol48no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol48no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol47no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol47no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/acuho-i/acuho/journal_vol47no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol46no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol46no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol46no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol45no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol45no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol45no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol44no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol44no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol44no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol43no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol43no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol43no1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol42no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol42no3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol41no2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/journal_vol40no2
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com