McKellar-Harries, Kennerley2021-01-062021-01-062021-01-062020-12-28http://hdl.handle.net/10012/16610Drawing upon narratives collected from those working in the fields of social work and child and youth work, this thesis examines the relationships forged between middle-class social service workers and low-income youth and their families. The focal site in this study is a subsidized housing complex, including a small non-profit run community center, located in a mid-sized Ontario city. Both semi-structured interviews and personal reflection were used in the collection of data. This work draws upon the existing body of literature on class and youth, with particular focus on class-based differences in values and parenting styles. Through examination of the naturalization of middle-class practices by participants, it becomes possible to re-examine relationships with working class and poor communities, and to find ways to best serve them.enSocial workersEthnologyClassismCanadaMaster Thesis