Navigating uncharted waters : what helps people from a family of low education level achieve upward social mobility?

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation was to understand the personal and social factors that interplayed in the lives of upwardly mobile individuals (UMIs) coming from families of low level of education (LLoE) and who have experienced upward social mobility (USM). The focus was to uncover meaning and experiences as opposed to generalise the results. This approach suited the choice of a narrative inquiry (NI) and six participants were interviewed. My own story was embedded throughout the writing. Participants narrated stories distinguished by feelings of inferiority, inadequacy, loneliness and hardship. They discussed how the USM path forged them with an identity that has distanced them from their roots. They articulated how their experiences served as their source of motivation to continue on their path. The sense of marginalisation and denigration from their more affluent peers spurred the determination to prove that they could still make it despite personifying themselves as the underdog. Participants discussed their pride at being children belonging to such families. They clearly expressed how their mature, independent, resilient and responsible personalities, as well as their strong values, work ethic and humility resulting from the experiences they endured, led them to achieve USM. Participants discussed the importance their family members hold within the USM trajectory. In consideration of these results and discussion, it is being suggested that systemic therapy might be a well-fitting form of counselling to address such issues. This research clearly exposed how counselling needs to be more accessible for individuals with lower financial means. It also exposed the need for counsellors to be aware of their own backgrounds and values in order for the counselling relationship not to be a re-enactment of the dynamics and scenarios UMIs faced in their lives.