Classism

Wow! The classism readings for the Adams book were intense! I didn’t realize that there was more to classism than just lower, middle and upper class. 

I want to start off with one of many myths that exist in this great nation: “if you try hard enough you can become a millionaire just as the other 1% of the US”.  This is so depressing because it is NOT true!  Even if someone tried hard enough in this nation to become wealthy and stable for their family they cannot do this without facing hardships and discrimination.  Other few myths are: “We are all getting richer…Everyone has equal chance to succeed…” (pp148)  I work as a hairstylist and I was once talking to a client about equal chances in success in this country. I told him I would like it if we had a society where everyone helped each other; somewhere where people could only reach a certain point in wealth and could not go above because they had to let the rest that were down the latter get up eventually.  He did not agree with me; he said that if he was able to succeed where he is, that it was not okay with him helping others that have not worked “as hard as he has to be where he is today…” I really did not know what to say.  I understand he could have been a “one in a million” case that actually started from level zero and worked his way up, or in contrast, he could probably just be someone whom inherited some wealth from his family and thus feels his family worked hard and he thinks “he worked hard to be where he is now” too.  But to the point, I personally feel that everyone should get the chance to succeed and if there is someone in need then they should be helped by his/her fellow citizens not just the government.  I know I will never become a millionaire because for one: I do not have accumulated wealth in my family, I do not have the income flowing into my bank account like crazy, I am a woman who will always face discrimination in the work  field, and my heritage (being Hispanic).  It’s kind of sad to put it in this perspective it almost sounds like I am complaining that I will never move up on the economic latter but it’s just reality per se.

Education correlates with class: I think this is true.  I know that I did not go to a high rating school, I went to a middle-lower division type of school and to be honest I was absolutely not ready for college!  I did not know what to do; high school did not prepare me. 

Another important thing I learned was that “class divisions arise from the differences between those who won and control corporate enterprise and those who do not” (pp154).  I think this division is important to know because I see the Wal-Mart case and I think they are a corporate business and they are definitely doing whatever they want with the workers; paying them low wages and discriminating awfully.  Something else is that I have personally feel that has happened in my family is the decline of leisure time and break down of civil relations.  My parents could never spend time with us at night to do homework with us because they would get home very late from work and were too tired to help us or even watch some television with us on the weekend.  I see the same thing happening to my sister who is a single mother, working two jobs for my niece and paying bills for her new home.  It hurts me to see her that way because I know that she is not the only one who goes through this.

I learned in the readings that debt is accumulated because families or individuals want to keep a high standard of living and in result they end up with hundreds of dollars in debt.  One thing that really upsets me is the loans: “…needed-based loans have risen 95% and merit-based have risen by 350%...” So only the “smart” kids can get the best loans.  There is also less and less money being put in savings accounts; there is no money to save when the little money earned at work and is spent in the first week of the month with all the home bills.  Another is health insurance: many families including mine do not have health insurance.  The premiums set by the health insurance companies are tremendous and sometimes they don’t even cover the doctor visits or medicines needed.

Classism connects with discrimination a lot.  I think that the idea of class in our society is so wrong.  I can probably stress this idea until I die, but I feel that everyone should get an equal chance to the pie that is wealth and prosperity.  It sucks that some people think that they have “worked harder than others” when in reality everyone is working hard to try to make their way up the economic latter.

Any thoughts…