Introduction: Social Class and Education

Abstract

While I was shopping in a supermarket on the Old Kent Road and during the time that I was conducting fieldwork research in Bermondsey, southeast London, I overheard the following conversation between two young men:

Young white guy (about 16–18 years old, fed up, stacking shelves): ‘I’m sick of this job [stacking shelves in the supermarket]: I wan’ a propa job: ya know, where ya ‘ave to wear a suit and all tha’[t] and ya get to tell uv[th]er people what to do.’

Young black guy (similar age, laughing, stacking shelves): ‘Yeah, bu[t] wha’ d’ yer mum and dad do for a livin’?’

Young white guy (stops stacking shelves for a moment): ‘Me dad drives a van and me mum works in a caf’[é].’

Young black guy (laughing): ‘So, what d’ ya expect then?’

Young white guy (silent, continues stacking shelves, fed up).

(Tesco, Old Kent Road, in the year 2000)¹