My hardships as a working class academic

There has been a lot of commentary recently about what it means to be a working class academic and someone mentioned to me, I should discuss my hard hard path to being an academic – here is my story. 

I grew up on a council estate and worked in the local meat packing factory. When I went to university, I found it a massive shift because…. oh wait I am white, straight and male, I didn’t find it a shift at all.

Many years later after working in industry (meat industry then some IT stuff), I went back and did a Master’s degree and found this a shift because… no wait… being white, straight and male, I didn’t find it difficult at all.

Then I did a PhD and this was difficult because… no wait it wasn’t because being white, straight and male people made the assumption that I was A) already someone with a PhD or b) already an academic.

That’s my story, hope that helps – now excuse me, I have to leave for my yoga class.