Navigating the Transition From School to Work: Social Justice Values in Neoliberal Times

• In Event: 56.081 - Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 56.081-11 - Sociopolitical Economic Understandings of Higher Education

Abstract

Students face a disconnect in transitioning from school to work. Depending on ideological perspective, the root of this disconnect has been identified as either student deficit or labour market limitations. This polarization represents broader ideological conflict regarding the purpose of education and the nature of work. This critical narrative inquiry explores how students navigate these conflicting ideologies and contradictory contexts, as they transition from school to work. Examining a liminal group of students who are transitioning into helping professions highlights how social justice narratives may “bump up against” dominant neoliberal values. This approach bridges our understanding of the individual and structural narratives that influence student transition.

Author

• Meaghan Dougherty, Douglas College