Gap years are often a sign of privilege. It’s true.
Media coverage of Malia Obama’s decision to take a gap year before college has brought a new level of attention and scrutiny to gap years in the US. Among the many opinions in the media, there are those who dismiss gap years because they are associated with privilege. The assumptions are that one has to be rich to take a gap year and that they are glorified vacations of little value.
But, if you care about equity in education, dismissing gap years is a mistake. To do so would be to abandon a crucial opportunity for learning and growth that all students need, including those who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Shining a light on the privilege, learning, and growth associated with gap years could point to a path to solutions to the higher education crisis and the inadequate support for first generation and low income college students.
Privilege and Access to Gap Years
Looking at the data about gap year participants in the US, it’s easy to see that gap years are associated with privilege. Research from The American Gap Association, a non-profit trade association, illustrates this clearly. Their published data shows 61% of gap year participants who reported their family income in a recent survey come from families with an annual…
