Frames of self:capturing working class British boys' Identities through photographs

Strongly refereed by the editors, this chapter explores the private and public worlds of four Manchester-based boys accessed as part of an ESRC-funded project investigating the construction of gender identity. The four 16-year-old boys were given cameras with which to photograph aspects of their lives that they considered significant. Their photographs acted as photo-elicitation for group discussions, and finally each boy took part in a one to one, in-depth interview. The findings were consistent with individualisation' theories, revealing the construction of individual identities, using male peers for reference. The self-work took place in two locations - public, peer-group situations where lines' for the male script' were rehearsed; and private reflections where boys tried to make various influences fit with their personal moral code. There are implications for public policy in understanding how these boys interpreted their experiences and developed identities in a world often felt to be hostile.