Understanding Class Dimensions

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

How is class experience defined?

economic class, political class, cultural class

What is meant by the term 'economic class'?

income and accumulated wealth

What is meant by the term 'political class'?

power to influence the public and political process

What is meant by the term 'cultural class'?

education, taste, lifestyle; known as cultural capital Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural capital?

the knowledge, habits, and tastes learned from parents and family that individuals can use to gain access to scarce and valuable resources in society Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'post-industrial society'?

idk -- ask Tompkins Signup and view all the answers

What is a white-collar worker?

Professionals who work in offices and administrative settings, typically on a full-time salaried basis. Signup and view all the answers

What is a blue-collar worker?

Someone who performs manual labor, often in a manufacturing job, and who earns an hourly wage. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pink-collar worker?

an individual who works in female dominated jobs with low pay Signup and view all the answers

What is the conservative understanding of 'class warfare'?

Class warfare is seen as a harmful liberal attitude based on incorrect beliefs leading to harmful public policies. Signup and view all the answers

How does Barbara Ehrenreich define 'class warfare'?

Class is a muddled concept, where allusion to various groups attracts the charge of class warfare. Signup and view all the answers

What is class consciousness?

A belief that you are a member of an economic group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups Signup and view all the answers

What are the 'rules' of inclusion for African Americans on primetime TV in the 1970s?

Minorities had to embrace the American dream to get screen time. Signup and view all the answers

What is The American Dream?

The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity for economic success. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'double shift' for women workers?

Women earn less and work as both paid laborers and unpaid caretakers. Signup and view all the answers

How are women's working-class problems generally framed?

As individual mistakes rather than class problems. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Roseanne feminist show portray?

Struggles of working-class women and the need for feminism. Signup and view all the answers

How is the worker on television usually represented?

As a 'clown'. Signup and view all the answers

What ideological commonsense does the 'class clown' idea reproduce?

The belief that the working class can move beyond its origins, reflecting a myth of social mobility. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 5 'inferior qualities' of the 'class clown' stereotype?

bad taste, lack of intelligence, reactionary politics, poor work ethic, dysfunctional family values Signup and view all the answers

What is 'bad taste' in the context of the working class?

Stereotypical image of lower class people lacking deserving lifestyle. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'lack of intelligence' imply about the working class?

The perception of them as an anti-intellectual group. Signup and view all the answers

What are 'reactionary politics' in the working class context?

Disinterest in politics or staunch conservative views. Signup and view all the answers

How is 'poor work ethic' portrayed in the media?

Lazy and incompetent, needing constant supervision. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dysfunctional family values' mean?

Working-class families are seen as the source of societal issues. Signup and view all the answers

How are poor blacks and poor whites pictured on TV differently?

White poor people are seen as non-threatening while black poor people are depicted as criminals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the portrayal of white trash in media?

White working-class individuals are mocked and considered cultural outcasts. Signup and view all the answers

What does redneck as a 'lifestyle choice' imply?

It suggests a political co-opting of working-class pride while maintaining class warfare. Signup and view all the answers

Why are labor union actions scarce in media?

Corporate media's narrow representations ignore the working class. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Class Experience

Defined by three interconnected dimensions: economic class, political class, and cultural class.

Economic Class

Relates to income and accumulated wealth, serving as a primary measure of one’s financial status.

Political Class

Involves the power to influence political processes and public opinion, affecting governance and policy decisions.

Cultural Class

Encompasses education, taste, and lifestyle, collectively referred to as cultural capital.

Cultural Capital

Represents knowledge, habits, and tastes learned from family, facilitating access to valuable societal resources.

Post-Industrial Society

Not explicitly defined; further clarification needed from Tompkins.

White-Collar Worker

Professionals working in office settings, typically full-time and salaried, often associated with administrative roles.

Blue-Collar Worker

Individuals engaged in manual labor, often earning hourly wages in manufacturing or skilled trades.

Pink-Collar Worker

Workers in female-dominated professions generally facing lower pay.

Conservative View on "Class Warfare"

Conservatives argue that "class warfare" is a harmful liberal ideology, attributing societal problems to income inequality and blaming liberal policies for economic decline and loss of American status.

Barbara Ehrenreich on "Class Warfare"

Suggests class is a muddled concept in America, with societal focus placed on a default middle class lacking in active class consciousness.

Class Consciousness

Refers to the awareness of one’s economic group and the perceived opposition to different economic interests.

Representation of African Americans in the 1970s TV

Minorities needed to embody the American dream to gain screen time, showcasing success without discussing systemic issues or advocating for wealth redistribution.

The American Dream

The belief that individual effort and hard work lead to success, regardless of race, gender, or class background.

Double Shift for Women Workers

Women often face wage disparities and manage paid work alongside unpaid domestic responsibilities, especially affecting single mothers.

Framing of Women's Working-Class Issues

Challenges are typically portrayed as personal failures rather than structural class problems.

Roseanne and Feminism

The show highlighted feminist issues and the struggles of working-class women, emphasizing the need for childcare and labor division in families.

TV Representation of Workers as "Clowns"

Working-class characters are often depicted inadequately, perpetuating stereotypes of personal failings rather than acknowledging social restrictions.

Ideological "Commonsense" of "Class Clown"

Reinforces myths of upward mobility in America, suggesting personal shortcomings are to blame for social status.

"Class Clown" Stereotype Traits

Defined by bad taste, lack of intelligence, reactionary politics, poor work ethic, and dysfunctional family values.

Bad Taste

Working-class lifestyles are portrayed stereotypically, as individuals are seen as undeserving of better circumstances.

Lack of Intelligence

Characters are depicted as unintelligent and anti-intellectual, overshadowing their historical role in advocating for education.

Reactionary Politics

Working-class individuals shown as disinterested or close-minded in political views, negating their historical political activism.

Poor Work Ethic

Stereotyped as lazy and incompetent workers, overshadowed by rising productivity rates and corporate profits.

Dysfunctional Family Values

Representations transition from idealized nuclear families to depictions of parenting failures and societal issues, ignoring systemic problems.

Differences in Representations of Poor Blacks and Whites

Poor whites are often portrayed as innocuous, while poor blacks are depicted as criminals, driven by societal failings.

White Trash as Cultural Outcasts

Represents a limited understanding of poor whites, often mocked or relegated to comedic roles in media narratives.

Redneck as "Lifestyle Choice"

Political co-opting of "redneck pride" contrasts with negative portrayals of poor whites, reinforcing stereotypes of deviance and lack of discipline.

Scarcity of Labor Union Representation

Labor union actions are underrepresented in media, contributing to a skewed understanding of the working-class experience amidst corporate-controlled narratives.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the interconnected dimensions of class, including economic, political, and cultural aspects. It will examine how these classes influence societal structures and individual experiences in a post-industrial society. Test your understanding of concepts like cultural capital, and the distinctions between blue-collar and white-collar workers.