Racial glass ceiling

According to the neoliberal mantra, anyone who is willing work hard can get ahead in our society. In an era when belief myth of meritocracy has become widespread, greater social mobility would represent promise escape from rising inequality. This paper challenges this and offers insight into fallacy individualized explanations role merit ascension. Drawing on 103 interviews with first-in-family (FIF) minority Roma graduates Hungary, using lens intersectionality, it explores hidden barriers career advancement for those professionals whose parents do not have a degree. The shows how intersections class racialised status matter relation what one labour market. It illuminates why FIF rarely enter elite occupations why, wise, they tend concentrate jobs dealing issues. effect dynamic interaction structural mechanisms Roma’s response/adaptation them that contribute both professionals’ market segmentation phenomenon glass ceiling. calls these two characteristics situation racial