Education as Possibility: The Social Construction of Identity

This doctoral thesis looks at the relationship between education and socially constructed identity. It examines the range of social identities made possible by education; the ways in which education is used to sustain particular identity groups while subjugating others; and the role of education in forming individual, social, and national identities.

In particular it focuses on under-resourced first-generation college graduates (First Gens). It examines post-secondary education as an identity-constructing process for individuals, families and the communities in which they live and work. It looks at the barriers and challenges encountered by under-resourced First Gens; the relational resources called upon to successfully navigate the college experience; and the ways in which First Gens become multi-voiced to bridge between social groups.

Although this paper is primarily theoretical, it seeks to personalize the discussion through the use of narrative and personal case studies of under-resourced first generation college graduates. Lastly, it proposes future research for education that borrows from coaching, a new discipline that focuses on intentional identity re-construction through relational processes.