Sunday, January 15, 2012

"People like Us"


I spent a bulk of my time on the PBS website looking at the documentary “People like Us.” This documentary shows how social class can be factor in our lives. It is a hidden factor though. We mostly talk about the feminist ideas around race sexuality etc., but we rarely ever hear people talking about the social class they are a part of. That is because we usually hang around the places that make us feel most comfortable. We always go to the same places, wear the same things, act the same way, and hang out with the same people. 

While on the website I found a sample of the video. The sample video opens with people judging a picture of a man. They were judging this man on anything they could infer from the picture. They looked at his clothes mostly, but even his body features and where he lived. They assumed from this picture that the man was of middle or lower class. Another picture they showed was of a man and woman. The people this time guessed these people were of wealthier status. One person said that he may have inherited his money. Of course we have no idea if these accusations are correct but the fact that social class has such an impact on how we judge others is shocking. How we can look at someone and say you’re middle class, or you’re lower class etc. As the video says, “class systems exist. It is based on looks, popularity, money, how big your house is, where your daddy works, etc.” 

As the video continued there were different types of judging social class. One way is saying someone has “old money.” Old money is someone who has always had money. They grew up with money and has never known anything other than that. Then there is “Snobbery.” Snobbery is what you own, essentially owns you. The car you drive says a lot. A Volvo says a person has a lot of kids, and a beat up Ford means that you have stolen it. There is “Taste.” Taste really deteriorates as we move down through the social classes. One man has the balls to say that middle class has no taste. The fact that we love gnomes in our gardens and not fine Grecian fountains shows the middle class that they have no taste. “Cliques” are a part of social order. They are based on how someone looks at first glance of where they belong in the social realm. If someone looks like a “dork” then they are of a lower class then the “jock” who can afford the newest clothes. In the sample they talked about “hired help”. This did not occur to me to be a social class but in fact it is. They lead their own lives but still fall into place when we talk about social class. Finally there is “New Money.” New money is one we see a lot. The person who has worked or come into some money and they feel the need to flaunt it. They buy fancy cars, go on expensive vacations, and buy boats to show that they have money. 

I found a few videos from documentary. Bill Bear a plumber describes to us what a yuppie is. “They are self-centered and love wine tasting. They live in real expensive homes, with expensive cars, and no furniture.” This is his way of describing someone of a higher class then him. We like Bill are always making assumptions on how the other half lives, but what we don’t realize is our assumptions usually live up to those standards. David Brooks talks about marriage and class. He says, “Stanford marries Harvard.” The idea that smart marries smart, rich marry rich. He continues saying, “a Magna marries Magna because if they married a Summa it would create a conflict to great to handle.”

The working class studies website talks about the study of the working class. It makes the social structure we all live in shown. It helps to explain why economic inequality is a feminist issue. If we look at the fact that people who work are supporting those on welfare is a reason right there. We are all equal so we should all be working and supporting ourselves. Working class studies is an up and growing field and just like racial inequality the fact that we are all caught in the social infrastructure and unable to get out is unfair and should be fought for. The website states in best, “Even as traditional blue-collar jobs seem to be disappearing, the working class remains a vital part of America's culture and economy.  It includes everyone from an autoworker to the waitress who serves you lunch.  Yet the experiences and views of working-class people are often ignored.” We need to honor these people and help them to be able to live as a blue collar person in a white collar world. 

I was in a show called “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and in the show there is scene where two characters meet from different social classes and they assume how the “Other Half Lives.” This relates because we really do make assumption, but we make them on what we see; how people dress, how they speak etc.



There are many stories we can think of that deal with this idea of social class. The story of the prince and the pauper, parent trap, and many more social economic stories of swapping places to see how the other half lives. It is the unknown secret of is the grass really greener on the other side. 





I would like to elaborate on this more. If we are so about our comfort zone and living where we “belong” why do we see these stories of swapping places and wanting to get out of the social class we are born into. Is it the human nature of curiosity or does it lie deeper than that?

15 comments:

  1. I love that you talk about appearance and social class. I can totally relate to that idea because I automatically judge people by what they're wearing all the time, and I have definitely assumed that someone was either rich or poor based on what they were wearing. It's interesting because class is supposed to be one of the least visible of all these identity categories (race, gender, etc.) and yet we still make assumptions about it from just looking at someone. Awesome post!

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  2. I really like your paragraph "As the video continued there were different types..." (3). I liked that you talked about the different categories about how people are judged and what they mean. Because someone has a gnome in their front lawn doesn't give you the right to look down on them!! I've seen some snazzy "upper class" people, and let me tell ya, they're not all the best dressers! lol! I want to go back to that site and watch that video, but every time i tried to watch something my computer wouldn't let me :(. Sounds interesting though!

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  3. As your writing deals more about the perceptions and differences in class, I have a different idea we can think about. Let's look at how the rich are more likely to finish college, and more likely to get into Ivy League schools, hence the legacies.This thought always fascinated me because in my high school only one person got into Brown University( she was not wealthy), but I assume that in wealthier neighborhoods(parts in Lincoln, Bristol, and East Providence) there were more people who got accepted into Brown, but Why? Yes they are all smart, but the people from the wealthier families had the resources, the right eduction, and the right upbringing to prepare them for ivy league schools that the working class or poor simply cannot afford. Good Post though!

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    1. Great point about ivy league schools. I think a large part of the exclusive selection beyond grades and achievement falls to the University's reputation and image. The simple fact that a school is exclusive enforces the image of superiority.

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  4. You made some very poignant observations regarding class and how it is an intangible social construct, yet we try an describe it via tangible means (clothing, haircut, car, school, etc.). In doing this we are creating misguided connections between social class and the physical world. Great post!

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  5. Great post! It's crazy because I was one to make assumptions about people based on how they dress an act all the time then get upset when people did it to me. It was like a huge contradiction I was living in. But I think we are all a little bit like that. Which is sad because we all want equality but we judge those who aren't as privileged. This class kind of helps fix that.

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  6. Love your post, I never realized how much we judge each other regarding class based on appearances until the website, and your post. What you saying is so true.

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  7. I like how you mentioned that everyone always wants to know and guess how the other half lives. A good example of that was the video of people guessing what class the people were just by seeing pictures of peoples houses on the pbs website.

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  8. Really good post! I never thought of the Parent Trap to be relative to this but now i can see why it could and its funny how thats a kids movie and how this stuff is see to younger children

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  9. I liked how you mentioned the different social classes and how each are displayed in our culture today. I tried to do a similar thing on my blog. I'm also glad that you saw Wall Street, there are many good examples of this sort of thing in that movie.

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  10. Thats such a good question Chris. If we're so happy in the class we're in, why are we always talking about switching places? Granted it's that whole phrase, "Don't judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes", as in all classes must have their ups and downs. But it's fascinating how just by the way you dress, people can assume what class your in. It's a crazy Thought. Great Post!

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  11. I think for many people it goes beyond curiosity. Even though I'm proud of having a working class ethic, and do enjoy what I earn....I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of those who have the money to enjoy the "finer things". When I decide to buy a quick pick ticket it's definitely not out of curiosity. I want that money!

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  12. The Parent Trap is a great example of different social class, as well as the Prince & Pauper. Can't believe I didn't think of those. Are you an actor?

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    1. I preform in local community theaters so I guess I am. I really like to sing and dance more though.

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  13. Very good post i like the different aspects you out with the movies. oh when lindsy was innocent lol

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