White Working Class Males in British Higher Education
Those who agreed did so as they linked it to getting a job that they wanted . The majority of participants felt that they would be able to cope with the work at university but stressed the need to ‘ put the effort in ’.
The year 10 / 11 participants ( FG2 ) also had a mixed response . A couple decidedly thought not as they had already decided to do an apprenticeship ; a few thought that they definitely were the sort of people to go and the others were less clear . Their reasons appeared to be related to a lack of clarity about the grades they ’ d need for certain courses and whether they would want to go :
“ Maybe it ’ s about social standing . Because of sexism and feminism girls may get the feeling that if they don ’ t go to university it ’ s perceived as not achieving . There ’ s a push for them to go . There ’ s not that sort of focus aimed at boys .” --focus group participant
I don ’ t know if I want to go yet . It depends on the grades I need .
The participants from the FE college also varied in their responses , although the learners on level 2 motor vehicle course ( FG5 ) were more negative overall , with most placing themselves towards strongly disagree :
I wouldn ’ t get the grades .
Cause I ’ m from a council estate . More like posh people , who are stuck up their own xxx .
The second group of FE learners ( FG6 ) were generally more positive about fitting in , however concerns remained particularly in relation to the need to mix on a social level :
It ’ s something different that I ’ ve never done it before so I might be a bit worried , a bit overwhelmed by the responsibility .
It depends on what sort of person you are – if you ’ re not the socialising type you might not make friends .
Participants across all focus groups were asked to think about whether there was difference between genders and whether girls or boys were more likely to want to progress into HE . Many felt that gender was irrelevant ( We ’ re all the same ; what ’ s gender got to do with it ?) but certainly not all . In all of the focus groups at least some of the participants felt there were differences and that meant that girls had a strongly likelihood of progressing . It was suggested that girls are more likely to plan , to achieve better at school and possibly be encouraged more :
Girls are more mature – they plan more and work harder . Girls do better at school so maybe they ’ re off to a better start .
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People think girls are smarter .
Since women have become more independent , historically and it ’ s not just men going out to work then there ’ ll be more Uni applications from women .
Some participants felt that males were more attracted into work and apprenticeships , which is played out in the destination data reviewed as part of the research :