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  5.     <title>UTas ePrints - Aspirationalism: The search for respect in an unequal society</title>
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  13.     <meta content="Gabriel, Michelle" name="eprints.creators_name" />
  14. <meta content="Michelle.Gabriel@utas.edu.au" name="eprints.creators_id" />
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  19. <meta content="Aspirationalism: The search for respect in an unequal society" name="eprints.title" />
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  25. <meta content="In the run-up to the 2001 federal election, Australia’s national political radar
  26. settled on a new, influential constituency: the upwardly mobile lower-middle
  27. class, the up and coming, or, most simply, the aspirationals. As with all sizeable
  28. demographic groups, the aspirationals were wooed by Australia’s two major
  29. political parties, both of which could legitimately claim them as a logical adjunct
  30. to their core constituencies: while the aspirationals are the children of Labor’s
  31. industrial workers, they are now typically putting in long hours at the office in
  32. order to service a mortgage in a marginal Liberal seat. Of course, such a group
  33. could not please everyone; following the rush of enthusiasm for the aspirational
  34. vote, several Australian political commentators denounced the phenomenon as
  35. repugnant.1 Their gripe was predictable, but nevertheless an incisive one. They
  36. railed against the ingratitude of the aspirationals, who were said to have betrayed
  37. their working-class roots, and against the aspirational’s vulgar desire for personal
  38. advancement, which they viewed as an affront to their dream of an egalitarian
  39. Australia. Although national debate has moved well beyond this relatively minor
  40. outburst, the disparagement of the aspirationals is indicative of a deeper tension in
  41. Australian political life over whether or not egalitarianism can endure into the
  42. twenty-first century, and how such a project might best be achieved. While some
  43. seek to redefine the scope and nature of egalitarianism and to refashion the
  44. Australian egalitarian project in the light of changed national circumstances,
  45. others view such reinvention as a renouncement of the core principles of the
  46. Australian egalitarian project and instead have called for the reinvigoration of a
  47. corporatist model of Australian governance.2
  48. This article contributes to the national conversation about egalitarianism and
  49. Australian governance by examining in greater detail some of the issues
  50. surrounding the fissure between defenders of the egalitarian project and
  51. aspirational workers. Rather than expressing further moral outrage at the
  52. aspirationals, I present a critical review of the egalitarian project and a more
  53. generous reading of the aspirationals, or rather upwardly mobile Australian
  54. workers. As part of my review, I specify the key features of egalitarianism as
  55. evoked by those who spoke out against the aspirationals and identify some of the
  56. tensions and oversights within this principled stance on egalitarianism. These
  57. include an incomplete understanding of the origins of contemporary inequalities,
  58. the contradictory treatment of fraternity and equality by egalitarians, and an
  59. uneasiness about the practical management of inequality. Drawing on interviews
  60. with young people about their experiences of social mobility, I isolate the
  61. pressures on young people to ‘get ahead’ and the problems that arise when people
  62. try to distinguish themselves from one another. I conclude by noting that the
  63. aspirationals are not the antithesis of egalitarianism but, rather, the aspirationals
  64. are particularly well placed to contribute to debate over the reinvigoration of
  65. Australian egalitarianism." name="eprints.abstract" />
  66. <meta content="2004" name="eprints.date" />
  67. <meta content="published" name="eprints.date_type" />
  68. <meta content="Journal of Australian Studies" name="eprints.publication" />
  69. <meta content="80" name="eprints.volume" />
  70. <meta content="147-156" name="eprints.pagerange" />
  71. <meta content="TRUE" name="eprints.refereed" />
  72. <meta content="1444-3058" name="eprints.issn" />
  73. <meta content="http://www.api-network.com/cgi-bin/jas/jas.cgi?issue=80" name="eprints.official_url" />
  74. <meta content="Gabriel, Michelle (2004) Aspirationalism: The search for respect in an unequal society. Journal of Australian Studies, 80 . pp. 147-156. ISSN 1444-3058" name="eprints.citation" />
  75. <meta content="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2128/1/jas80_gabriel.pdf" name="eprints.document_url" />
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  77. <meta content="Aspirationalism: The search for respect in an unequal society" name="DC.title" />
  78. <meta content="Gabriel, Michelle" name="DC.creator" />
  79. <meta content="370107 Social Change" name="DC.subject" />
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  81. <meta content="370104 Urban Sociology and Community Studies" name="DC.subject" />
  82. <meta content="In the run-up to the 2001 federal election, Australia’s national political radar
  83. settled on a new, influential constituency: the upwardly mobile lower-middle
  84. class, the up and coming, or, most simply, the aspirationals. As with all sizeable
  85. demographic groups, the aspirationals were wooed by Australia’s two major
  86. political parties, both of which could legitimately claim them as a logical adjunct
  87. to their core constituencies: while the aspirationals are the children of Labor’s
  88. industrial workers, they are now typically putting in long hours at the office in
  89. order to service a mortgage in a marginal Liberal seat. Of course, such a group
  90. could not please everyone; following the rush of enthusiasm for the aspirational
  91. vote, several Australian political commentators denounced the phenomenon as
  92. repugnant.1 Their gripe was predictable, but nevertheless an incisive one. They
  93. railed against the ingratitude of the aspirationals, who were said to have betrayed
  94. their working-class roots, and against the aspirational’s vulgar desire for personal
  95. advancement, which they viewed as an affront to their dream of an egalitarian
  96. Australia. Although national debate has moved well beyond this relatively minor
  97. outburst, the disparagement of the aspirationals is indicative of a deeper tension in
  98. Australian political life over whether or not egalitarianism can endure into the
  99. twenty-first century, and how such a project might best be achieved. While some
  100. seek to redefine the scope and nature of egalitarianism and to refashion the
  101. Australian egalitarian project in the light of changed national circumstances,
  102. others view such reinvention as a renouncement of the core principles of the
  103. Australian egalitarian project and instead have called for the reinvigoration of a
  104. corporatist model of Australian governance.2
  105. This article contributes to the national conversation about egalitarianism and
  106. Australian governance by examining in greater detail some of the issues
  107. surrounding the fissure between defenders of the egalitarian project and
  108. aspirational workers. Rather than expressing further moral outrage at the
  109. aspirationals, I present a critical review of the egalitarian project and a more
  110. generous reading of the aspirationals, or rather upwardly mobile Australian
  111. workers. As part of my review, I specify the key features of egalitarianism as
  112. evoked by those who spoke out against the aspirationals and identify some of the
  113. tensions and oversights within this principled stance on egalitarianism. These
  114. include an incomplete understanding of the origins of contemporary inequalities,
  115. the contradictory treatment of fraternity and equality by egalitarians, and an
  116. uneasiness about the practical management of inequality. Drawing on interviews
  117. with young people about their experiences of social mobility, I isolate the
  118. pressures on young people to ‘get ahead’ and the problems that arise when people
  119. try to distinguish themselves from one another. I conclude by noting that the
  120. aspirationals are not the antithesis of egalitarianism but, rather, the aspirationals
  121. are particularly well placed to contribute to debate over the reinvigoration of
  122. Australian egalitarianism." name="DC.description" />
  123. <meta content="2004" name="DC.date" />
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  236.     <h1 class="ep_tm_pagetitle">Aspirationalism: The search for respect in an unequal society</h1>
  237.     <p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><span class="person_name">Gabriel, Michelle</span> (2004) <xhtml:em>Aspirationalism: The search for respect in an unequal society.</xhtml:em> Journal of Australian Studies, 80 . pp. 147-156. ISSN 1444-3058</p><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"></p><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block"><tr><td valign="top" style="text-align:center"><a onmouseover="EPJS_ShowPreview( event, 'doc_preview_2666' );" href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2128/1/jas80_gabriel.pdf" onmouseout="EPJS_HidePreview( event, 'doc_preview_2666' );"><img alt="[img]" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png" class="ep_doc_icon" border="0" /></a><div class="ep_preview" id="doc_preview_2666"><table><tr><td><img alt="" src="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2128/thumbnails/1/preview.png" class="ep_preview_image" border="0" /><div class="ep_preview_title">Preview</div></td></tr></table></div></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/2128/1/jas80_gabriel.pdf"><span class="ep_document_citation">PDF</span></a> - Requires a PDF viewer<br />534Kb</td></tr></table><p style="margin-bottom: 1em" class="not_ep_block">Official URL: <a href="http://www.api-network.com/cgi-bin/jas/jas.cgi?issue=80">http://www.api-network.com/cgi-bin/jas/jas.cgi?issue=80</a></p><div class="not_ep_block"><h2>Abstract</h2><p style="padding-bottom: 16px; text-align: left; margin: 1em auto 0em auto">In the run-up to the 2001 federal election, Australia’s national political radar&#13;
  238. settled on a new, influential constituency: the upwardly mobile lower-middle&#13;
  239. class, the up and coming, or, most simply, the aspirationals. As with all sizeable&#13;
  240. demographic groups, the aspirationals were wooed by Australia’s two major&#13;
  241. political parties, both of which could legitimately claim them as a logical adjunct&#13;
  242. to their core constituencies: while the aspirationals are the children of Labor’s&#13;
  243. industrial workers, they are now typically putting in long hours at the office in&#13;
  244. order to service a mortgage in a marginal Liberal seat. Of course, such a group&#13;
  245. could not please everyone; following the rush of enthusiasm for the aspirational&#13;
  246. vote, several Australian political commentators denounced the phenomenon as&#13;
  247. repugnant.1 Their gripe was predictable, but nevertheless an incisive one. They&#13;
  248. railed against the ingratitude of the aspirationals, who were said to have betrayed&#13;
  249. their working-class roots, and against the aspirational’s vulgar desire for personal&#13;
  250. advancement, which they viewed as an affront to their dream of an egalitarian&#13;
  251. Australia. Although national debate has moved well beyond this relatively minor&#13;
  252. outburst, the disparagement of the aspirationals is indicative of a deeper tension in&#13;
  253. Australian political life over whether or not egalitarianism can endure into the&#13;
  254. twenty-first century, and how such a project might best be achieved. While some&#13;
  255. seek to redefine the scope and nature of egalitarianism and to refashion the&#13;
  256. Australian egalitarian project in the light of changed national circumstances,&#13;
  257. others view such reinvention as a renouncement of the core principles of the&#13;
  258. Australian egalitarian project and instead have called for the reinvigoration of a&#13;
  259. corporatist model of Australian governance.2&#13;
  260. This article contributes to the national conversation about egalitarianism and&#13;
  261. Australian governance by examining in greater detail some of the issues&#13;
  262. surrounding the fissure between defenders of the egalitarian project and&#13;
  263. aspirational workers. Rather than expressing further moral outrage at the&#13;
  264. aspirationals, I present a critical review of the egalitarian project and a more&#13;
  265. generous reading of the aspirationals, or rather upwardly mobile Australian&#13;
  266. workers. As part of my review, I specify the key features of egalitarianism as&#13;
  267. evoked by those who spoke out against the aspirationals and identify some of the&#13;
  268. tensions and oversights within this principled stance on egalitarianism. These&#13;
  269. include an incomplete understanding of the origins of contemporary inequalities,&#13;
  270. the contradictory treatment of fraternity and equality by egalitarians, and an&#13;
  271. uneasiness about the practical management of inequality. Drawing on interviews&#13;
  272. with young people about their experiences of social mobility, I isolate the&#13;
  273. pressures on young people to ‘get ahead’ and the problems that arise when people&#13;
  274. try to distinguish themselves from one another. I conclude by noting that the&#13;
  275. aspirationals are not the antithesis of egalitarianism but, rather, the aspirationals&#13;
  276. are particularly well placed to contribute to debate over the reinvigoration of&#13;
  277. Australian egalitarianism.</p></div><table style="margin-bottom: 1em" cellpadding="3" class="not_ep_block" border="0"><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Item Type:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">Article</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Subjects:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/370107.html">370000 Studies in Human Society &gt; 370100 Sociology &gt; 370107 Social Change</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/370101.html">370000 Studies in Human Society &gt; 370100 Sociology &gt; 370101 Social Theory</a><br /><a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/view/subjects/370104.html">370000 Studies in Human Society &gt; 370100 Sociology &gt; 370104 Urban Sociology and Community Studies</a></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ID Code:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">2128</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited By:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><span class="ep_name_citation"><span class="person_name">Dr Michelle Gabriel</span></span></td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Deposited On:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">08 Nov 2007 16:02</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">Last Modified:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row">09 Jan 2008 02:30</td></tr><tr><th valign="top" class="ep_row">ePrint Statistics:</th><td valign="top" class="ep_row"><a target="ePrintStats" href="/es/index.php?action=show_detail_eprint;id=2128;">View statistics for this ePrint</a></td></tr></table><p align="right">Repository Staff Only: <a href="http://eprints.utas.edu.au/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&amp;eprintid=2128">item control page</a></p>
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