Classism
Encyclopedia
Classism is prejudice
or discrimination
on the basis of social class
. It includes individual attitudes and behaviors, systems of policies and practices that are set up to benefit the upper classes at the expense of the lower classes. It can also include attitudes and behavior of prejudice and discrimination by members of the lower class to members of the higher class.
can refer either strictly to personal bigotry or to institutional racism
. The former has been defined as "the ways in which conscious or unconscious classism is manifest in the various institutions of our society." Economics, education, health outcomes, fashion, capitalism and music are inherently designed to favor people who have more money/wealth over those who do not have money or wealth.
The term "interpersonal" is sometimes used in place of "personal" as in, "institutional classism (versus) interpersonal classism.", and terms such as "attitude" or "attitudinal" may replaced "interpersonal" as contrasting with institutional classism, as in the Association of Magazine Media's definition of classism as "any attitude or institutional practice which subordinates people due to income, occupation, education and/or their economic condition."
Classism is also sometimes broken down into more than two categories, as in "personal, institutional and cultural" classism.
Terms associated with personal or attitudinal classism include "white trash
", "little men
" or "little people," "trailer trash,", "the unwashed masses", and "bludger
s". In earlier historical periods, classist terms and phrases as hoi polloi or plebs, which are "derogatory of the lower classes," were more commonly used than they are today.
into discernible classes. There is also often disagreement over matters of understanding, such as whether negative treatment is due to prejudice against members of certain classes, or whether the behavior is a rational reaction to actions of the person being so treated, or due to racial, ethnic, sexual, or other identity.
People who generally tend to find charges of classism against 'lower' classes to be unfounded or unreasonably harsh often characterize the perceived prejudice as expressive of classist class envy. Those who argue classism is especially pervasive or fundamental to the society that they live in often identify classism as the expression of systematic economic exploitation
by the 'higher' classes, and may connect it with an explicit notion of class warfare
However, any particular accusation of classism does not, as such, presuppose any such claim, just as people may agree on examples of overt racism
, while disagreeing intensely over how widespread or deep-seated racist attitudes are in their society.
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
or discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
on the basis of social class
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
. It includes individual attitudes and behaviors, systems of policies and practices that are set up to benefit the upper classes at the expense of the lower classes. It can also include attitudes and behavior of prejudice and discrimination by members of the lower class to members of the higher class.
Institutional versus personal classism
The term classism can refer to personal prejudice against 'lower' classes as well as to institutional classism, just as the term racismRacism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
can refer either strictly to personal bigotry or to institutional racism
Institutional racism
Institutional racism describes any kind of system of inequality based on race. It can occur in institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporations , and universities . The term was coined by Black Power activist Stokely Carmichael in the late 1960s...
. The former has been defined as "the ways in which conscious or unconscious classism is manifest in the various institutions of our society." Economics, education, health outcomes, fashion, capitalism and music are inherently designed to favor people who have more money/wealth over those who do not have money or wealth.
The term "interpersonal" is sometimes used in place of "personal" as in, "institutional classism (versus) interpersonal classism.", and terms such as "attitude" or "attitudinal" may replaced "interpersonal" as contrasting with institutional classism, as in the Association of Magazine Media's definition of classism as "any attitude or institutional practice which subordinates people due to income, occupation, education and/or their economic condition."
Classism is also sometimes broken down into more than two categories, as in "personal, institutional and cultural" classism.
Terms associated with personal or attitudinal classism include "white trash
White trash
White trash is an American English pejorative term referring to poor white people in the United States, suggesting lower social class and degraded living standards...
", "little men
William J. H. Boetcker
William John Henry Boetcker was an American religious leader and influential public speaker.Born in Hamburg, Germany, he was ordained a Presbyterian minister soon after his arrival in the United States as a young adult. Rev...
" or "little people," "trailer trash,", "the unwashed masses", and "bludger
Bludger
Bludger may refer to:*A metal band from Leeds, UK*A type of ball used in the fictional game Quidditch in the fictional Harry Potter universe*A pimp, in 19th century slang*In Australian slang, a lazy person...
s". In earlier historical periods, classist terms and phrases as hoi polloi or plebs, which are "derogatory of the lower classes," were more commonly used than they are today.
Accusations of classism
There is disagreement over what degree modern industrialized societies are economically stratifiedEconomic stratification
Economic stratification refers to the condition within a society where social classes are separated, or stratified, along economic lines. Various economic strata or levels are clearly manifest...
into discernible classes. There is also often disagreement over matters of understanding, such as whether negative treatment is due to prejudice against members of certain classes, or whether the behavior is a rational reaction to actions of the person being so treated, or due to racial, ethnic, sexual, or other identity.
People who generally tend to find charges of classism against 'lower' classes to be unfounded or unreasonably harsh often characterize the perceived prejudice as expressive of classist class envy. Those who argue classism is especially pervasive or fundamental to the society that they live in often identify classism as the expression of systematic economic exploitation
Exploitation
This article discusses the term exploitation in the meaning of using something in an unjust or cruel manner.- As unjust benefit :In political economy, economics, and sociology, exploitation involves a persistent social relationship in which certain persons are being mistreated or unfairly used for...
by the 'higher' classes, and may connect it with an explicit notion of class warfare
Class conflict
Class conflict is the tension or antagonism which exists in society due to competing socioeconomic interests between people of different classes....
However, any particular accusation of classism does not, as such, presuppose any such claim, just as people may agree on examples of overt racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, while disagreeing intensely over how widespread or deep-seated racist attitudes are in their society.
See also
- Caste system
- Class conflictClass conflictClass conflict is the tension or antagonism which exists in society due to competing socioeconomic interests between people of different classes....
- ElitismElitismElitism is the belief or attitude that some individuals, who form an elite — a select group of people with intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most...
- Economic inequalityEconomic inequalityEconomic inequality comprises all disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income. The term typically refers to inequality among individuals and groups within a society, but can also refer to inequality among countries. The issue of economic inequality is related to the ideas of...
- Economic stratificationEconomic stratificationEconomic stratification refers to the condition within a society where social classes are separated, or stratified, along economic lines. Various economic strata or levels are clearly manifest...
- Class ConsciousnessClass consciousnessClass consciousness is consciousness of one's social class or economic rank in society. From the perspective of Marxist theory, it refers to the self-awareness, or lack thereof, of a particular class; its capacity to act in its own rational interests; or its awareness of the historical tasks...
- RankismRankismRankism is "abusive, discriminatory, or exploitative behavior towards people because of their rank in a particular hierarchy".Rank-based abuse underlies many other phenomena such as bullying, racism, sexism, and homophobia. The term "rankism" was coined by physicist, educator, and citizen diplomat...
- MarxismMarxismMarxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
Further reading
- A People's History of the United StatesA People's History of the United StatesChapter 7, "As Long As Grass Grows or Water Runs" discusses 19th century conflicts between the U.S. government and Native Americans and Indian removal, especially during the administrations of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren....
by Howard ZinnHoward ZinnHoward Zinn was an American historian, academic, author, playwright, and social activist. Before and during his tenure as a political science professor at Boston University from 1964-88 he wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United... - Hill, Marcia, and Esther Rothblum. Classism and Feminist Therapy : Counting Costs. New York: Haworth Press, 1996.
- Gans, Herbert. The War Against the Poor, 1996
- Homan, Jacqueline S. Classism For Dimwits. Pennsylvania: Elf Books, 2007,2009
- Packard, Vance. Status Seekers. 1959
- Beegle, Donna M. See Poverty - Be the Difference. 2001
- Carrier, Jerry The Making of the Slave Class Algora Publishing 2010
- Leondar-Wright, BetsyBetsy Leondar-WrightBetsy Leondar-Wright is an economic justice activist, sociologist, and author, who writes on class and economic inequality.-Early life and education:...
. Class Matters: Cross-Class Alliance Building for Middle-Class Activists: New Society Publishers, 2005
External links
- http://www.pbs.org/peoplelikeus/about/index.html"People Like Us" Web site at PBS
- Class Action - websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
- „Extending Our Analysis of Class Oppression“ - PDF document
- "Foundations of Class and Classism. 2002" - PDF by Chuck Barone
- Inequality.org Compendium of statistics, news, and opinions on inequality in the U.S.
- Class Matters
- http://www.classism.org/blog "Classism Exposed"