Dr Crew’s book challenges the pervasive myth that social mobility erases class identity, offering an unflinching exploration of the lived realities of working-class academics (WCAs). The judges described the work as “a timely and necessary contribution” that “confronts the ‘non-entity’ status often imposed on working-class academics.” Crew’s analysis interrogates shallow definitions of class that reduce it to income level, instead emphasising the enduring cultural and social dimensions of class identity in academic spaces.
At the heart of the book is a powerful reframing of the narrative around working-class presence in higher education. Rather than viewing WCAs through a deficit lens, Crew explores the idea of “working-class cultural wealth” – the valuable knowledge, resilience, and insight WCAs bring with them. Through discussions on impostor syndrome, code-switching, and institutional microaggressions, the book provides essential vocabulary for understanding and addressing class-based discrimination in academia.
Unique in its scope, The Intersections of a Working-Class Academic Identity adopts an intersectional approach that addresses how class interacts with gender, race, ethnicity, and disability to shape academic experiences. It also includes the perspectives of adjunct and contingent faculty, highlighting how class background affects precarity in academic employment. This comprehensive treatment ensures the book speaks not only to scholars, but also to students and institutions committed to equity and inclusion.
Speaking about the award, Dr Crew said: “Receiving this award is profoundly meaningful because I deeply admire the ground-breaking work of Jake Ryan and Charles Sackrey, who explored the lives of working-class professors in the US. This recognition affirms that our stories matter, and that class identity doesn’t vanish with academic achievement. I hope it sparks deeper conversations about the persistent barriers WCAs face and inspires institutions to create more inclusive environments.”
Published by Emerald and supported by Knowledge Unlatched, the book is available in paperback for £20. The ebook is free to access thanks to open access funding and can be downloaded via OAPEN.
Dr Crew will be formally honoured at the WCSA25 conference in Sydney/Gadigal, Australia, taking place from 2–5 December 2025.
To read the book for free, click here: The Intersections of a Working-Class Academic Identity: A Class Apart