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    Unavailable
    The Myth of Meritocracy: Why Working-Class Kids Still Get Working-Class Jobs (Provocations Series)
    Unavailable
    The Myth of Meritocracy: Why Working-Class Kids Still Get Working-Class Jobs (Provocations Series)
    Unavailable
    The Myth of Meritocracy: Why Working-Class Kids Still Get Working-Class Jobs (Provocations Series)
    Ebook99 pages1 hour

    The Myth of Meritocracy: Why Working-Class Kids Still Get Working-Class Jobs (Provocations Series)

    By James Bloodworth

    4.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    The best jobs in Britain today are overwhelmingly done by the children of the wealthy. Meanwhile, it is increasingly difficult for bright but poor kids to transcend their circumstances. This state of affairs should not only worry the less well-off. It hurts the middle classes too, who are increasingly locked out of the top professions by those from affluent backgrounds.

    Hitherto, Labour and Conservative politicians alike have sought to deal with the problem by promoting the idea of 'equality of opportunity'. In politics, social mobility is the only game in town, and old socialist arguments emphasising economic equality are about as fashionable today as mullets and shell suits. Yet genuine equality of opportunity is impossible alongside levels of inequality last seen during the 1930s. In a grossly unequal society, the privileges of the parents unfailingly become the privileges of the children.

    A vague commitment from our politicians to build a 'meritocracy' is not enough. Nor is it desirable: a perfectly stratified meritocracy, in which everyone knew their station based on 'merit', would be a deeply unpleasant place to live. Any genuine attempt to improve social mobility must start by reducing the gap between rich and poor.

    PROVOCATIONS is a groundbreaking new series of short polemics composed by some of the most intriguing voices in contemporary culture and edited by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. Sharp, intelligent and controversial, Provocations provides insightful contributions to the most vital discussions in society today.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBiteback Publishing
    Release dateMay 19, 2016
    ISBN9781785900761
    Unavailable
    The Myth of Meritocracy: Why Working-Class Kids Still Get Working-Class Jobs (Provocations Series)

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    Reviews for The Myth of Meritocracy

    4.5/5

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    • 5/5
      Keep with this book because, for a little tome, it is also a slow burner. The author takes his time to ensure that we are all on the same page before hitting the reader between the eyes with the final chapters.There is much, in the earlier chapters, that will lead a reasonably politically adept individual to be saying, "I know that." but, the last couple of chapters not only destroy any belief that we might be heading for a meritocracy, but goes further and questions whether a meritocracy is the great goal that it is cracked up to be. Equality of opportunity is a good step, but what about those people who will always be on the bottom step, even if things are decided upon talent: should they be jettisoned, or helped?This is a 'quick read' book that leaves much to think about. I thoroughly recommend it.