Examining Class

Learning about class over the past two weeks has been interesting and challenging for me. It has brought many things into the light for me that I have never necessarily contributed to class. I for one reason or another associated issues like education, housing, and jobs in categories of there own. What I mean is that I have never realized the heavy impact class and classism plays in them. I have always understood that class plays a role, just not to the extent that I do now. I love learning, but recently more times than not, the material can be hard to swallow.

Reflecting on our class and classism readings as a whole, there were several that were really intriguing to me. Gregory Mantsios's chapter practically jumped off the page to me. I have reread it a couple times and want to share with you some of the highlights I liked.

"The four common, albeit contradictory, beliefs about the United States"
        Myth 1: The United States is fundamentally a classless society.
        Myth 2: We are, essentially, a middle-class nation.
        Myth 3: We are all getting richer.
        Myth 4: Everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

      Reality 1: There are enormous differences in the economic standing of American citizens.
      Reality 2: The middle class in the United States holds a very small share of the nation's wealth and that share is declining steadily.
      Reality 3: Even ignoring the extreme poles of the economic spectrum, we find enormous class difference in the life-styles among the haves, the have-nots, and the have-littles.
      Reality 4: From cradle to grave, class standing has a significant impact on our chances for survival.
      Reality 5: Class standing has a significant impact on the chances for educational achievement.
      Reality 6: All Americans do not have an equal opportunity to succeed. Inheritance laws ensure a greater likelihood of success for the offspring of the wealthy.

I know that I have definitely heard the top four myths said from people who honestly believe it. I have heard those points debated by people as well. But two sentences that stood out to me the absolute most, and that I feel summarize these points well are:
---"Class standing, and consequently life chances, are largely determined at birth."      AND
---" A more just society will require a radical redistribution of wealth and power." <-- To be honest, I don't feel like that will ever happen short of a divine miracle. ( I believe miracles can happen, but redistribution of wealth will never just happen. It will seriously take a MIRACLE).

Another very striking thing I took away from the class and classism readings was in this weeks reading. Karen Pittelman and Resource Generation included a picture (or diagram) of a woman. She was standing in a typical vertical stance with dressy casual clothes on. Surrounding her there are twelve characteristics stemming off from all around her. The twelve characteristics were:
      1. polite
      2. great smile
      3. reliable
      4. high GPA
      5. confident
      6. impressive resume
      7. great references
      8. well spoken
      9. impressive degree
      10. well- rounded
      11. energetic
      12. looks put-together

On the following page you see a doctor pushing a giant full body x-ray machine. Or as the picture says, the "Magic X-Ray Declassifier" You now see a skeleton of the woman and twelve new characteristics that describe her. The twelve new characteristics further describe the twelve previous ones:
      1. taught upper-class manners
      2. expensive dental work
      3. high- quality healthcare keeps sick days down
      4. able to focus on studies without having to support self or family
      5. always told in school, "You can do anything"
      6. able to take unpaid internships to build job experience
      7. able to call on connections from powerful social networks
      8. taught perfect "standard" English
      9. family legacy aided admission to exclusive school
      10. lessons in upper-class pastimes like golf, riding and sailing
      11. can afford time to rest and take vacations
      12. can afford high- quality, professional clothing and accessories

Let me just tell you that I have never thought about characteristics in that way before! This just blew my mind. It is ever so true though. I see it in my life, I see it in the lives of the people around me, and I see it in society as a whole. I am a firm believer that class standing and life chances are determined at birth. I could go on and on with evidence as to why I think this is true, but it would be excessive. I am not saying that this is true for everyone one though, there are definitely people who significantly alter their life through different choices, or are given unique opportunities giving them a different chance than previously projected. But as a vast majority it is true. Class is determined at birth, and good luck with trying to change it. The Horatio Alger saying/myth: "pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps" (as if everyone has boots, let alone bootstraps) is something that is said so commonly in our society, but unrealistic Adams, 2010). I think it pertains to my previous statement well. Not everyone can make huge changes to their circumstances, even though most people want to more than anything, it is just not realistic.

Classism stinks = fact.

I have been scoping the internet about class, America's infatuation with seeming classless, and classism in general. Here are some articles and things I wanted to share. I encourage you to check out the links!
Class Matters- A Special Edition Section of the NY Times    ( This is a whole section with a TON of articles, charts, graphs and statistics)
NY Times Article on Class

Check out these Zinn interviews/ videos!!!
Video part 1:  Class in America

Video part 2:

Video- Taxes and Class War:

I hope you take the time to examine class for yourself! Thanks for reading :)