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Finding an Identity in the Crowd: A Single-Case Framed Narrative of Being in the Invisible Majority

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Abstract

To explore the richness that can be uncovered from personal stories, this chapter engages with the voice of a single student that would not normally be heard. The narrative is framed by a map-mediated interview, using the concept of pedagogic frailty as a framework to guide the discussion. The development of a student identity is hampered by conflicting discourses within higher education that consider issues such as widening participation and employability and tend to homogenise student voice. The chapter ends with a discussion of the importance of personal identity and how an individual may avoid being stereotyped or labelled by the establishment through adoption of a personal identity that avoids alignment with the unfavourable perception of a ‘privileged majority’.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Higher Education, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Ian M. Kinchin

  2. Brighton, Sussex, UK

    Alexander M. Kinchin

Authors
  1. Ian M. Kinchin
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Correspondence to Ian M. Kinchin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Higher Education, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Simon Lygo-Baker

  2. Department of Higher Education, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Ian M. Kinchin

  3. Department of Higher Education, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

    Naomi E. Winstone

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Kinchin, I.M., Kinchin, A.M. (2019). Finding an Identity in the Crowd: A Single-Case Framed Narrative of Being in the Invisible Majority. In: Lygo-Baker, S., Kinchin, I., Winstone, N. (eds) Engaging Student Voices in Higher Education . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20824-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20824-0_2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-20823-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-20824-0

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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