Welcome to the New Ambivalence: Reflections on the historical and current cultural antagonism between the working class male and higher education

This paper is an attempt to trace the history of working class male ambivalence towards both the structure and the processes of higher education. An analysis is attempted whereby the nature of working class masculinity as ambivalent regarding education is problematised and placed within a much larger social network for consideration. It is hypothesised here that as society changes from being production-led to information-led the nature of working class masculinity will have to change. Previously, working class masculinity had been inextricably linked to notions of hard, unpleasant work. This will have to change, and it is further hypothesised that at present we are witnessing the 'lag' as working class masculinity tries to catch up with the world of work, technology and the forces of Globalisation.