The Experiences of Working Class Families in an Era of Uncertainty.

As the relatively high-paying, traditionally unionized blue-collar jobs are being de-industrialized out of existence; more working class people are finding themselves in the service sector whose policies often make it extremely difficult for them to find the time and resources to care for their families. A grounded theory approach was undertaken in order to provide a theoretical framework for a proposed larger study. The goal of this study was to better understand how working families are adjusting to recent economic, social and political changes, affecting their lives. Six in-depth, face-to-face interviews were undertaken with participants residing in a small working-class suburb of Metropolitan Detroit (three women, ages 33- 60; three men, ages 35-49). This research supports the previous notion that economic interests and experiences of the working class are set apart from more highly educated and affluent citizens. These families find it harder to accomplish their hopes and dreams in the midst of recent economic changes, and they are having constant difficulty supporting and preserving family life. These working class families are finding themselves in a different world than their parents and grandparents, and implementing new policies that support them economically and socially will require organized constituencies advocating for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]