Classism in America? (page 3)

under74

So, CRR...the behavior of my peers in stereotyping the poor and speaking of them in terms of "those people" and such wasn't classism?
I agree it's not static in the States, in that we don't live in a feudalistic society but obviously there are people that have never been on the other side of the economic spectrum who've never done without and have some strange if not downright outrageous ideas of what being poor is like.

pepheuga

under74,

: Why slave owning, "trail of tears" inciting A. Jackson?

because he was from the "wrong" "class", and made it to the top.

pepheuga

czarofmischief

It's a useful way to control you mortals.

You guys tend to do it anyway; prejudging is a useful survival technique that draws on past experience to predict the future. BUT... a little manipulation, and you think it's your own idea!

mwa-hahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!

CZAR

rwagoner

Here I am again spouting my disability jingle but I can equate your feelings sititng in that group with many of the people I teach.

We open our training session with my "able bodied" business partner seemingly starting the class, with me out of sight. He begins to talk about people with disabilities and asking for how people feel about them, what makes someone disabled, what do they believe people with disabilities can and can't do....some of their answers are unbelievable. Their stereotypes and misconception of what it is like to have a disability are amazing. Most admit that they are uncomfortable around PWD even if they don't know why, most would not consider dating or marrying a PWD and would try to talk their child out of marrying a PWD as well. At this point in the class my business partner thanks them for their comments and introduces me at which point I move to the front of the room and watch their expressions change as they realize that I was listening. We then move on to teach some disability awareness and try to do it with humor and acknowledge why they feel the way they do, while hopefully opening their minds, and hearts to PWD.

We start out hearing.."Those people".."wheelchair bound"...."cripples"..."retards"...."nut jobs"....."burden on society".....among other things. But in the end most usually leave with a greater understanding having met someone who is fairly normal...even if i am obnoxious...who has a disability. **(I have three great disability t-shirts that raise eyebrows...one says "Piss On Pity" another says "Does THis Wheelchair Make My Ass Look Big" and the last says "Keep Staring, I Might Do A Trick". LOL..told you I am obnoxious)

Sometime we will put people in wheelchairs for the day..or blindfold them and make then learn to trust someone to guide them around...or tape them up on one side to simulate a stroke....now they will never fully understand what it is like to LIVE...all your life....with a disability, but it gives them a little taste.

I see the same, lack of understanding among social, racial and economic "classes"....someone who has never lacked for ANYTHING....will never understand what it is like to lack for EVERYTHING. As a result their misconceptions and stereotypes can be VERY condescending and hurtful whether they realize it or not.

Once again I have typed a book....Sorry all.......LOL

RandyW

bebu

rwagoner, your 'books' have been fine with me!

I live on the west coast, and went to public schools just like nearly everyone else. Only Catholics attended private schools in my area. Before my sr. year in high school, I went on a trip to France for 6 weeks (homestay and hosteling), which I paid for myself by working and saving for 2 years. Everyone else in my group was from the east coast, and all of them attended private prep/boarding schools, planning to attend ivy league schools. All of them took regular trips abroad during holidays, and had never had a job before. Talk about a culture clash! We may as well have been from different planets.

They were initially polite to me, but after a couple days I was non-existant to them. Especially when we were touring and would break up into groups, in a group of eleven people I would be the odd one out. It bothered me at first, but I decided I wouldn't let them unintentionally ruin my experience.

Of all the people on that trip, I got along with all the Algerians the best!! LOL!!

Anyway, until then I had never felt like I was in a "lower" class before.

bebu

gunnmama

Well of course there is classism in America. Is has always been there, but with the middle class dwindling.. .and that was the only thing that really set us apart from other nations; Now we are with the two distinct classes 'the haves' and 'the have nots'. This has become a bigger deal than the other 'isms' ie, racism...etc. This is very apparent as a midwestern transplant in the Los Angeles area. We do have opportunity to rise financially but the cost of the struggle is sometimes more than we are willing to pay. I chose to pace myself as I work raise a family and get a better education. I consider myself a 'have not' for now. The difference is though that I believe in speaking up, giving and paying my dues. Though tommorrow is not promised me, I believe my course of action benefits everyone around me, right now...I have everything but the money!

under74

Once again I have typed a book....Sorry all

Not at all. It wasn't so long. Thanks for sharing that Randy.

Bebu- yeah, I remember some painful experiences somewhat like that in my teen years. I don't ever really feel that anymore. Last week was the closest to it but it wasn't an embarassed type feeling--more anger than anything.

gunnmama- I'm with ya!

Badger

Interesting, whenever big corporations/wealthy individuals get a tax cut, it's done to "stimulate the economy"..

ask for a tax increase on them or ask for a minimum wage increase, and you're "promoting class warfare"...

Of course there's a class war in this country...it's just that one side owns the police and is doing the shooting.

under74

...ask for a minimum wage increase, and you're "promoting class warfare"...

I was working in a hotel/tourist type business for around 2 years. The people house cleaning were getting upset about the amount of hours worked and the little pay they got and went to management. I was supportive of them (although I wasn't in houskeeping) they were all working overtime and weren't paid enough to get by so every one of them had at least 1 other job. Anyway, they complained and the next day I kept hearing from the assistant manager about "ignorant jerks" and "they're lucky they even have a job" and the real clincher "they deserve whatever we give them and that's it!"

All they had to do was speak up and they were "out of line."

Classism in America?

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