Does Classism exist?

Question

So far i've only read knee jerk responses. Any intelligent remarks. What else do you notice about Class, people's feelings towards it, the purpose of division on the basis of socio-economic status etc.

Anyone reading this, on yahoo, using the internet (in terms of global distribution of wealth and resources) is 'middle class' my friend. I don't deny that i am priviledged even to be having a discussion about such a taboo subject, however i come from a working class background and probably had a much harder time of it that YOU, you know who are, so before you point your guilt ridden finger at me, notice the fingers pointing back at yourself, i was merely instigating a dialogue and YOU depraved it with your internalised classist oppressive material, or maybe you're really the victim...think harder please. I'm not interested in lame-*** observations.

Any radicals out there??

I'm sorry but asking if something exists really doesn't constitute flapping gums and responses like that should be kept for your weekly bingo night i think. At least the others tried to answer, you simply proved my point!!

Answer 1

yes it does. it is social and economic, and only legal when there are individuals on totally opposite ends of the socioeconomic ladder at odds. i often find myself referring to those who work minimum wage service jobs as "the peasants", and those who own property as "the landed gentry". the gap between the haves and the have nots has grown since the feudal days when class was law. the haves have money, and the have nots have less than nothing. they are more in debt than slaves. a slave owns nothing at all, not even himself. net worth=0. the peasants these days could sell all their belongings and their liberty, then still have debts to pay. net worth less than 0

Answer 2

Yes, I believe it is alive and kicking. I would probably be described as middle class and have tried to de-classify myself as an adult, but find my early 'learning' is SO entrenched in my brain that I am not aware of a lot of inconsistent thoughts. Have you ever been on the Harvard Uni website? They have series of tests that anyone can do- IAT tests. They demonstrate our 'set' and uninvestigated thoughts and I think this kind of ties in with what you were asking? How can silly ideas persist? The tests are free and very interesting, especially the Race tests. Apparently, most Black Americans who do this test show a pro-white thinking pattern! Thinking is obviously passed down without thinking, if you see what I mean? Sorry - too long answer, great question.

Answer 3

It starts from the day u r born. When u r born u automatically get classified as male or female, then into a race, then into a nationality, then into a culture, then itno traditions, then when u go to school u go from grade to grade until u get through college, then by what u earn u get classified into what earning brackett u belong, it's a never ending circle that results in even the day u die where and what cemetery u'll be buried at depending on the affordibility of ur family being able to bury u in different sections of the cemetery. Now what do u think does classism exist?

Answer 4

Yes definitely, I'm guilty of it and I'd say everyone else is too! I grew up in an overwhelmingly white suburb and did not learn to judge or separate people based on race, but rather on how I perceived their socioeconomic status. I believe there are more differences in people of different social classes than there are between those of different races. For example, I am more likely to associate and be comfortable with an upper middle class black person than a lower class white person. We are more likely to have similar interests, similar education, and similar values. Honestly, I don't believe it is so reprehensible to be "classist", isn't it better than being racist? At least judging someone on their individual actions is better than forming your opinion of them based solely on their racial background.

Answer 5

Yes, it does. There are plenty of people who look down on those with less money who live in places that aren't as nice as their own homes. People who aren't as fortunate often get treated unfairly by people in higher classes.

A very obvious example is the Untouchable class in India. They are born into this class and have to perform the lowest type of work and have no advantages in society. Similar things happen in the US, and they are often mixed in with racism. For example, if you watch "Cops" and see a black person getting into trouble, you might automatically say something like, "well, he's from the ghetto, what do you expect?" By implying that he's from a lower class area, you're perpetuating stereotypes about the lower classes.

I definitely think classism is a problem in this country, and I know for a fact that it exists.

Answer 6

I think it does. There are lots of people who look down on tradespeople or single mothers/fathers or children not wearing the latest clothes- not driving the latest car etc. The very rich may feel uncomfortable with their daughter dating the poor boy down the road. its a sad fact in life but its true.

The only way we can stop it is to watch our own behaviour and beliefs thats it. We have no control on other people

Answer 7

Only a middle class person could ask such a question.
Of course classism still exists. I should know I've confronted it enough times in my life.
How many politicans apart from Prescott speak with regional accents?
Classism divides those people who are formally educated from those who couldn't afford to go to university.
Its not what you know, but who you know and having the qualifications to prove it.

Answer 8

IT IS MORE LIKE HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES, THE BORDERS ARE OPEN AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES HAVE WASHED THEIR HANDS OF HIGH PRICED AMERICAN COSTS AND IDEALS AND CLASSES THERE MAY BE A UNSUSTAINABLE DESIRE BECAUSE OF LACK OF LAWS TO KEEP UP THE STATUS QUO, BUT I'LL DRINK TO WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AND TURN THE LIGHTS OUT WHEN IT'S OVER.....1%ERS CLASS OF BLOOM HI 1962

Answer 9

I don't know if I am radical, If I am not, I am sorry to disappoint you.

I can only give you my point of view, that is that classism is like God, it only exists whilst people keep flapping their gums about it.

Answer 10

yes classim is when the rich guy takes the mickey outta a poor guy because hes poor