Description
Book SynopsisGiven the range of possibilities open to women today, what futures do adolescent girls dream of and pursue? And how do social class and race play into their trajectories? In asking young women about their aspirations in three areasschool, work, and familyBest Laid Plansdemonstrates how future plans are framed by notions of gendered responsibilities and abilities. Through her examination of the lives of poor, working-class, and middle-class Black and White young women as they navigate the transition to adulthood, sociologist Jessica Halliday Hardie defines anew what it means for young women to come of age. In particular, Hardie shows how social capital, either possessed or lacked, is not simply a resource for planning for the future but a structure whose form and function varies by social class and race. As these inequalities persist into adulthood, high aspirations, social capital, and careful planning bolster some young women while hindering others. Drawing on qualitative data from
Trade Review"Well-written and with a compelling research design, the book would do well in undergraduate as well as graduate classes on inequality, youth, and education." * Social Forces *
"A significant intervention." * Anthropology Book Forum *
Table of ContentsContents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I Reconsidering Aspirations
1. High School Girls’ Plans
2. Anticipating a Packaged Future
3. Hoping for a Repackaged Future
Part II Traversing the Transition to Adulthood
4. Dreams Unfurled
5. On Track
6. Holding On
7. Navigating Rough Seas
Conclusion: Beyond Planfulness
Appendix: Methodology
Notes
References
Index
