Classism
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Classism is prejudice and/or discrimination on the basis of socioeconomic 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.[citation needed] Classism is grounded in a hierarchy belief system that ranks people according to socioeconomic status, family lineage, and other class-related divisions. This system leads to a drastic income and wealth inequality.[citation needed]
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[edit] Classism
Charges that a person, act or institution is classist often provokes argument.[citation needed]There is frequently intense disagreement between the parties over background facts, such as whether modern industrialized societies are economically stratified into discernible classes (and if so, how much); and 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 it is a rational reaction to "personal" traits of the person being so treated.
People who generally tend to find charges of classism against 'lower' classes to be unfounded or unreasonably harsh often characterise the perceived prejudice as expressive of 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 — but it is important to note that any particular accusation of classism does not, as such, presuppose any such claim, just as people may agree on examples of overt white supremacism, while disagreeing intensely over how widespread or deep-seated racist attitudes are in their society. It could also be said that classism is 'popular' with resentful lower classes, looking for scapegoats as to their lower standard of living.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
- Caste system
- Class conflict
- Class envy
- Elitism
- Economic inequality
- Economic stratification
- Class Consciousness
[edit] Further reading
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
[edit] External links
- Class Action - website
- [1] Co-occurrence of rape myth acceptance, sexism, racism, homophobia, ageism, classism, and religious intolerance.
- „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.
- [2] Co-occurrence of rape myth acceptance, sexism, racism, homophobia, ageism, classism, and religious intolerance.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE).Allison C. Aosved and Patricia J. Long.
[edit] References
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
