I'm not sure that "Classism" has made it into common usage as yet. In fact, I'm not sure that it ever will. The coinage follows racism and sexism so who knows, as persons become more conscious of conflicts caused as much by class as race or gender it may become as common as the words it imitates are. No matter, the Classism website is an interesting place to spend some time, and for the beginning introduction I'm suggesting you visit the blog. You'll get there by clicking on the image above.
Browse through some of the articles and find one interesting to you. Some are much shorter than others. While I'm not setting a page limit, please don't look for the shortest one just because it is the shortest one. Reflect on it in your journal, and what it may suggest about some of the difficulties of cross-class relationships, and whetever else tickles your fancy.
Both these titles link to printer-friendly pages, but you willl want to look at the materials onlin as well, to see the illustrations and view the interactive material before class. We'll probably use the slide shows in class, as well. The second is just five pages long. We should finish if we're efficient
We've been noticing that social class is not merely a matter of economics. Gender, race, and education increase the complexity of class in the American Culture. Today's two readings will look at the role higher education plays in allowing persons to cross class boundaries. We'll also look at the opposite side of the coin: how absence of a degree may not only make it more different for a person to clime, but may also make it difficult to keep from falling out of one's social class in times of economic hardshuip.,
The Interactive Slide Shows are HERE. Watch them before class. You'll be prepared to watch them in class with questions in your mind, that way.
NOTE: You may find you now need to register for the New York Times. I did when I was preparing these notes. It's free, and takes but a minute or two, so do it.
There are a few terms you'll need to understand when you read the section on college admissions: probably chief among them, as far as class goes, is "legacy admissions".
Two Houses in Alpharetta. To the right, a tour of "The Falls of Autry Mill", Below "The Gates"
Alpharetta is (or maybe was) home to the Link family--the subject family in the essay on the "Relo Class"
The last time I taught this class, many of my students were more geographically mobile. One of them had actually lived in Alpharetta Georgia, on of the "Relovilles" populated mainly by upper middle class persons like the Link Family. As you read, and as you think and write in your journal, you might do two things: First think about what you might like or dislike as a member of this group. What would be the advantages and disadvantages? Under what conditions would you be willing to relocate in the fashion described. Second, remember what Shipler wrote about the importance of "kin"--the social network. Are there some dangers attached to being a member of the "Reloville" society. Make sure you look at the interactive resources here.
We began to get a hint that money alone doesn't buy elite status. Before Newport became the summer playground for the Vanderbilts and their friends, Saratoga Springs was the place to which the wealthy escaped. Unable to be recognized by the "old money crowd (Astors, and others who made their money in shipping and railroads, they built their own exclusive resort. They also built a new Opera House, the Metropolitan Opera because they were frozen out of box seats by Mrs. Augustus Belmont. The clash between Nouveaux Riche and Old Money is the subject of Chapter 11.
As far as the "Hyper-Rich" as the New York Times calls the subjects of Chapter 12, "The people at the top of America's money pyramid have so prospered in recent years that they have pulled far ahead of the rest of the population, an analysis of tax records and other government data by The New York Times shows. They have even left behind people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year".
Try to get your heads around the figures provided, and reflect on the implications of this for the American culture generally. I was hoping to show the HBO documentary, Born Rich, but may not have the time. I haven't given up yet, but I have a personal copy if you'd like to borrow it. Make sure that you look at the multimedia materials on the New York Times Website.The graphs tell an interesting story.
