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The Lack of What …?: First-in-Family Learners and Their University Experience

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First-in-Family Students, University Experience and Family Life

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Abstract

This chapter explores how the first-in-family (FiF) cohort is theorised and defined in various geographical and cultural contexts. Beginning with a critique around a lack of clarity of this cohort, the chapter moves to a review of related topics within the broad field of university participation and student engagement. O’Shea, May, Stone and Delahunty demonstrate the ways in which the FiF group is collectively framed as ‘lacking’. This deficit is articulated through reference to cultural, social, familial, academic and economic capitals. The chapter discusses how this focus on lack only serves to further disenfranchise these learners, arguably contributing to a pervasive sense of dislocation within the higher education environment. Chapter 3 continues this discussion by ‘disrupting’ this deficit framing through reference to narrative vignettes derived from the research projects.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia

    Sarah O’Shea & Janine Delahunty

  2. University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Josephine May & Cathy Stone

Authors
  1. Sarah O’Shea
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  2. Josephine May
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  3. Cathy Stone
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  4. Janine Delahunty
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O’Shea, S., May, J., Stone, C., Delahunty, J. (2017). The Lack of What …?: First-in-Family Learners and Their University Experience. In: First-in-Family Students, University Experience and Family Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58284-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58284-3_2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-58283-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-58284-3

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