Available From UC Press

Given the range of possibilities open to women today, what futures do adolescent girls dream of and pursue? And how do social class and race play into their trajectories? In asking young women about their aspirations in three areas—school, work, and family—Best Laid Plans demonstrates how future plans are framed by notions of gendered responsibilities and abilities. Through her examination of the lives of poor, working-class, and middle-class Black and White young women as they navigate the transition to adulthood, sociologist Jessica Halliday Hardie defines anew what it means for young women to come of age. In particular, Hardie shows how social capital, either possessed or lacked, is not simply a resource for planning for the future but a structure whose form and function varies by social class and race. As these inequalities persist into adulthood, high aspirations, social capital, and careful planning bolster some young women while hindering others.

Drawing on qualitative data from a five-year period, Best Laid Plans makes the case for why we need to move beyond the individual appeal to “dream bigger” and “plan better” and toward systematic changes that will put young people’s aspirations within reach.

"Through memorable stories of young women, Best Laid Plans exposes how universities function as corporations by exploiting young people's imagined futures. Jessica Halliday Hardie's sharp analysis brings to life the nuances of class stickiness, especially as it differently shapes the lives and trajectories of Black and White girls. Packed with meaningful insights, this book deserves to be widely read."—Ranita Ray, author of The Making of a Teenage Service Class: Poverty and Mobility in an American City

"In this powerful book, Hardie provides a rare and riveting view into the lives of girls coming of age, revealing that in an era of uncertainty, planning isn't enough to move into adulthood. By chronicling these young women's poignant life stories, Hardie insightfully shows how class and race profoundly and differentially shape access to the critical resources needed to turn their dreams into realities. This book is a must-read."—Marianne Cooper, author of Cut Adrift: Families in Insecure Times

"Best Laid Plans is an engaging, major contribution to the field. Using insightful interviews from a carefully designed longitudinal study with young women, Hardie beautifully captures the complexity of the transition to adulthood. Best Laid Plans powerfully illuminates not only how girls cannot plan their way out of adversity but also how plans can create new disadvantages."—Sarah Damaske, author of The Tolls of Uncertainty: How Privilege and the Guilt Gap Shape Unemployment in America