Hinton-Smith, Tamsin (2008) Lone parents as higher education students. In: Johnson, Rebecca (ed.) University life uncovered: Making sense of the student experience. SWAP Monograph series . Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Social Policy and Social Work (SWAP), Southampton, UK, pp. 66-75. ISBN 9780854328901

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Abstract

This paper focuses on how the personal experience of lone parents who become students informs their learning and experience of university life. Longitudinal qualitative research with a sample of 79 lone parents studying at a range of UK higher education institutions (HEIs)demonstrates the powerful impact personal experience has upon successful and satisfying higher education completion for this group of learners. The research found personal experience to impact upon university life across a range of causes and effects. Work on the conflicting demands of the family and university as ‘greedy institutions’, each making insatiable claims on individual members’ time and energies, is particularly relevant (Acker, 1980; Edwards, 1993). The paper explores the relevance of lone parents’ wider lives in particular their experience of housing, mental health, social inclusion/isolation, family ties, friendships, employment, on-line social spaces and leisure time.

Item Type:	Book Section
Schools and Departments:	School of Law, Politics and Sociology > Sociology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The Family. Marriage. Women L Education > LC Special aspects of education > LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher education H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Depositing User:	Tamsin Hinton-Smith
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2008
Last Modified:	22 Feb 2016 15:32
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/1823
Google Scholar:	0 Citations

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