Saturday, January 14, 2012

Talking Points #5: Economic Justice as a Feminist Issue

Economic Equality as a Feminist Issue



As we have discussed in class, feminism covers more than the struggle of any one independent group or structure.  The balance, or imbalance might be a better phrasing, of privilege and oppression, power and for all intents and purposes the powerless, fits in among topics of feminism.  The system of capitalism is an area which I had spent a significant portion of focus in my Classical Theories coursework this past fall semester.  I chose to study and write on the conceptual theories of Thorstein Veblen, famous for such books as The Theory of the Leisure Class, and The Vested Interests and The Common Man.  The general focus of such works surrounded the observed tendencies of people who fell within socio-economic class catagories as well as the responsibilies and cultural expectations that come with class distinction.  A society based on the system of capitalism has no possibility of existence without class distinction.  One might say that a premise of capitalism is the possibility to better one's financial standing and lifestyle given the resources to make it happen.  The consequent effect of having the ability to elevate one's economic status is of course that there be a measure of inequality as a result. 

The question of how or why economic inequity is a feminist issue is answered in the struggle for some sense of morality within the divergence of class identities.  Class is closely related to gender, race and ethnicity, religion, and other social categories and distinctions which fall prey to segregation or exclusion, oppression, stereotyping, and labeling.  Class diversity is a matter of power, privilege, oppression, and identity.  The Center for Working Class Studies website explains the need to recognize the distinctions in our social and economic culture for what they are and how we as a society are responsible for how they are addressed.  A quote that I found relavent to this states; “our belief that class doesn’t exist keeps us from understanding how much it matters.”  I've heard the problem of ignorance to class in America before.  To me, it's not so much an issue of believing that class doesn't exist in our country, but rather that it just is what it is.  The idea that the struggle for some...or most, is only natural seems to be common enough a perception that it is simply ignored by many.  It is clear also that any personal topic speaking on issues of what one has and another does not often seems easier to ignore or distance yourself from.  I would expect that the issue of class status and economic privilege is one which would invite some varying personal opinions and emotions depending on who's doing the talking (not unlike issues of gender, race, and sexuality). 


One thing that I find interesting is that while this topic can be so closely associated with our previously discussed topics in class, it also seems one which is so much easier to collectively or openly assign stereotypes to without as great a risk of coming across as narrow minded or being confronted for a negative comment.  Perhaps I feel this because I identify most with middle and working class people, and there is never a penalty in bad mouthing the wealthy....there's rarely one in speaking light of the poor either for that matter.  


 
I found the People Like Us website entertaining while identifying the reality of public perception and identification through things like employment, consumerism, and attitude.  I played the games available and see how common it is everyday to assign class distinction to people and items.  As a result these distinctions can affect choices in what we do, what we buy, and how we live relative to what resources we have and how we wish to be, and not to be perceived.  In playing the livingroom decorating game I found that I was perceived to be associated to working-middle-class with some hints toward upper-class taste (chose a Hi-def TV).  I find that in choosing between the items available, my taste seems to reflect what I have become accustomed to over time.  I didn't grow up with money...believe me.  And I find that I was proud to be associated as working or middle class.  I believe that such a sense of pride is also a product of identifying yourself with hard work and other people you respect within similar circles.  

I'm sure most can relate to Joe Queenan speaking on “permanent high school” saying that now we always feel the need to be cool.  We always feel the need to fit in and impress our friends.  This is basically the concept of keeping up with the Jones’…or better yet, staying one step ahead of them.
The story revolving around Burlington VT and the debate over choice of grocery store clearly depicts the topic of class characteristics and perceived classification.  Shaw’s represents the middle and working class resident who values mainstream products and reasonable prices vs. Onion River which in a way represents a more image conscious culture, who have the funds to pay typically higher prices for a selection focused more toward organic and pricey health food items.  Speaking as a tourist who recently visited Burlington during their busy warmer months, I was able to see the distinction that exists in the community.  What I noticed was a well populated middle-class town which surrounded a busy health concious, college town with an upper-middle class focused town center.  With this imbalance in a town that earned the distinction of one of the healthiest in America, I can see how class and cultural distinctions might continue to intensify.   
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:

I also focused on a phrase writen on the site which said “enshrined in national legend”  referring to the idea that all people are created equal.  I found this phrasing well suited, when considering the U.S. a land of equality, with such a multitude of people having experiences which would say otherwise.  I think it's interesting how class identification can present both a sense of pride, as well as a sense of powerlessness which unlike some of the other topics discussed, doesn't seem quite so easy to rectify simply by recognition of inequality and a change in mentality.


17 comments:

  1. “our belief that class doesn’t exist keeps us from understanding how much it matters.” This quote kind of goes back to what Johnson was saying about white privilege and how whites have to accept that they do have that privilege in order to fix the issue.. Social classes needed to in a way step out of the box and see that social class does exist in order to make the US a land of equality..

    Great post!

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    1. Thanks. As this class moves along I feel like my posts are getting longer and longer. I'm glad you were willing to read it.

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  2. I am really glad you shared Joe Queenan's story. I must have missed it but its so true. I like the last picture about fighting hobophobia. What was Classical Theories in? I mean like anthro, history, or english, etc..

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    1. Classical Theories is one of the main Sociology courses for the major. We didn't spend much time on topic in class discussions, but the reading required for the course was interesting.

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  3. I like how you mentioned that you have pride for being a hard worker. Growing up I had a few friends from very wealthy upper class families (one of them lives in a 2 million dollar house) and when I was younger it made me jealous to see that they got everything they wanted and didnt have to work for it. I feel proud to have worked hard for everything I owned, and I recently talked to these old friends I had and found out they have only gone down hill since they were always handed everything.

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    1. I guess being born into privilege isn't always a guaranty for the future.

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  4. You make a really interesting point with the fact that it is much more acceptable to make assumptions and negative comments about peoples' social class rather than some of the other things that define us, like race. We have to realize that social class is just as much a part of us as all of those other things, and it is just as dangerous to make negative assumptions about this.

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    1. I think this is an appropriate discussion for the age-old adage : "when you assume you make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'"... as cryptic and mystical as this proverb is, I think it holds certain weight in this situation...

      Making any assumptions is ignorant; as much as someone thinks they know about a person, they will never truly understand them and know what experiences they have gone through to shape their lives. So, to "assume" is to neglect their uniqueness. Jean, I agree, social class is part of who we are and it definitely defines our existence (probably more than it should), but the difference between social class qualities like race, sexual orientation, and gender is that social class is something we can change. I think this impermanence is why people are more comfortable commenting on it than things like race.

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  5. I think you stumbled upon something. It is interesting to know that people may make different lifestyle choices based on the perceived class of the choice. You said you refer to yourself as middle to working class, but what determines that? Is it what people think of you or what you think of yourself? I myself see myself as upper-middle class individual even though I have no job, no fancy car, not even a fancy house yet I firmly believe that I belong in the upper middle class bracket. I don't know, I feel like class is a mentality thing, but simply being wealthy or low income is an economic thing. Just my thoughts.

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    1. Interesting point. I make my determination of my class based on economic and employment positions basically. Seeing as I grew up in a family that constantly had to face financial hardship (bills and rent were definitely not our friends), and I myself have had primary employment within wage earning positions, I see myself as working-middle-class. I try not to take on any implications beyond this though. I basically focus on the intentions of working hard to achieve what I can. The limitations society places on us through stereotypic determination should never be the limitations we accept for ourselves.

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  6. Great Post! You really looked very closely at this problem effecting our nation. One quote you put in your blog I really enjoyed was "our belief that class doesn't exist keeps us from understanding how much it matters." This quote really shows how Americans view class. We sweep it under the rug and we just live our lives distinguishing people by race and sex but never social class. I also like your picture of the hobo, it made me laugh lol.

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  7. I love the picture of Mariah Carey's shoe closet, and then a poor man on the street. Its crazy how some people can have soooooooo much while others have nothing. Really made me think how true the rich get richer and the poor get pooer idea is true.

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  8. I also too love the picture of Mariah Careys shoe closet, not gunna lie but thats pathetic that she has all that and there are people out there on the street like the picture under it who have nothing. Celebrities should be less worried about what they have and help others who need it much more when they just give a little

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  9. I really liked how you made a clear picture of the divide between the ultra-rich (Mariah Carey) and the poor in your post. I also enjoyed the graphic you incuded of the percentages of the different classes in America. It's proves without a doubt that even though we consider the country a Democratic nation, we still live in a class system. I also agree with you that the relationship between power and wealth is just another part of out lives.

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  10. I LOVE YOUR HOBOPHOBIA PICTURE! lol that was classic. Okay well your article was great, it really helped me in writing my blog yesterday. You took great facts from the websites and related them to today (Mariah & hobo). "I would expect that the issue of class status and economic privilege is one which would invite some varying personal opinions and emotions depending on who's doing the talking (not unlike issues of gender, race, and sexuality)." I couldn't have said it any better. I think this is just how social class is related to feminism, which in turn relates also to gender, race ect. I think feminism is about inequality in the world, and the social classes really make a harsh statement on how unequal this world really is.

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  11. A general reply to all of the recent comments....thanks alot for reading. Between the class readings, the Occupy assignment, and reading everyone's blog posts, I feel like I can barely keep up with your responses. Your feedback is great, and much appreciated.

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