0305 Being Middle Class.pdf

THE MEME ASSIGNMENT Meme Assignment: First-Person Pronouns T h e c la s s ic r e a s o n fo r p r o h ib itin g f ir s t-p e r s o n p r o n o u n s is to p r o m o te o b je c tiv ity In c r itic a l s o c ia l sc ie n c e , w e e m p h a size th a t a r e se a r c h e r a lw ay s h a s so m e r e...

THE MEME ASSIGNMENT Meme Assignment: First-Person Pronouns T h e c la s s ic r e a s o n fo r p r o h ib itin g f ir s t-p e r s o n p r o n o u n s is to p r o m o te o b je c tiv ity In c r itic a l s o c ia l sc ie n c e , w e e m p h a size th a t a r e se a r c h e r a lw ay s h a s so m e r e la tio n to th e ir o b je c ts o f stu d y C r itic a l so c ia l sc ie n c e a lso a c k n o w le d g e s su b je c tive e x p e r ie n c e s a s va lid so u r c e s o f in fo r m a tio n When is your subjective experience a valid source of knowledge, and when is it not? Meme Assignment: Defining and Citing yo u n e e d to d e f in e a n d e x p la in a ny ke y so c io lo g ic a l c o n c e p ts th a t yo u u s e th a t m ig h t in c lu d e d e f in in g c o n c e p ts th a t su p p o r t th e m ( e x a m p le : d isc ip lin a r y p o w e r a n d n o r m a liz a tio n ) w h e n yo u d e f in e a c o n c e p t, c ite th e s o u r c e , in c lu d in g p a g e n u m b e r o r d a te o f le c tu r e yo u a lso n e e d to c ite o u ts id e s o u r c e s WHITENESS INVENTED, CONTINUED Islamophobia in History a n t i - S e m i t i s m a n d Is l a m o p h o b i a b o t h d e r i v e f r o m m e d i e va l Christian supremacism Is l a m e m e r g e d i n 6 1 0 C E ; b y 1 0 0 0 - 1 3 0 0 C E , Is l a m i c s o c i e t y m a d e m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o E u r o p e a n p h i l o s o p h y, a s t r o n o m y, m a t h e m a t i c s , s c i e n c e , a n d m e d i c i n e , a n d significant contributions to the arts Is l a m r e c o g n i z e d J e w s a n d C h r i s t i a n s a s ʻ p e o p l e s o f t h e bookʼ and Moses and Jesus as important prophets C h r i s t i a n s , h o w e v e r, v i e w e d Is l a m a s a h e r e s y a n d Muhammad as a precursor to the Antichrist from 1095-1291 CE the Catholic Church sponsored crusades attempting to conquer Jerusalem from Muslim rule Islamophobia in Canada Protestant and Catholic Christianity was key to settler-colonial cultural identity in English and French Canada respectively the Canadian Multiculturalism act of 1971 and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 affirm religious freedom in principle Islamophobia in Canada escalated sharply after the attacks of September 11, 2001 blaming all members of a group for the actions of a few is a key feature of racism Islamophobia in Canada since 2001, Muslims have become second among religious groups targeted by hate crimes mass killings against Muslims occurred in Quebec city in 2017 and London, Ont in 2021 more everyday violences include microaggressions (especially against women), employment discrimination, and racial prof iling a 2016 Environics study found that 1/3 of Muslims in Canada had experienced discrimination in the preceding f ive years* Source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Islamophobia Islamophobia in Canada i n 2 0 1 3 , t h e Pa r t i Q u é b é c o i s g o v e r n m e n t p r o p o s e d a ʻ Q u é b e c Va l u e s C h a r t e r ʼ w h i c h i n c l u d e d p r o p o s a l s t o b a n p u b l i c s e r va n t s from wearing any visible symbol of faith, including a turban, hijab, or kippah a 2021 study found an association between this and similar proposals and increases in hate crimes BEING MIDDLE CLASS SOC 107-031 05 March 2024 PART ONE Context W h o Is th e M id d le C la s s ( G lo b e a n d M a il) h ttp s:/ / w w w.yo u tu b e.c o m / w a tc h ? v = f id l1 U Q a M Ig M o s t C a n a d ia n s Wo r r y A b o u t Af fo r d in g th e B a s ic s ( C B C N e w s ) h ttp s:/ / w w w.yo u tu b e.c o m / w a tc h ? v = L Kyc L n z H G Tg T h e D e a th o f A m e r ic aʼs M id d le C la s s ( B ig T h in k ) h ttp s:/ / w w w.yo u tu b e.c o m / w a tc h ? v = m Q Q G 7 y 5 z j1 0 to b e ʻm id d le-c la s sʼ is o n e k in d o f c e n te r so m e w r ite r s th in k it is th e m o s t MiddleClass fu n d a m e n ta l k in d , a s a ll o th e r k in d s o f c e n te r ( m a le n e ss , h e te r o s e x u a lity, w h ite n e s s , a d u lth o o d , ʻa b ility ʼ, e tc.) a s s u m e a m id d le -c la s s su b je c t o th e r th in k th a t n o fo r m o f c e n te r is th e m o st fu n d a m e n ta l, a s a ll fo r m s o f c e n te r in g a ssu m e a ll o th e r s What Makes A Person MiddleClass? PART TWO Two Concepts of Class so c io -e c o n o m ic s tra tif ic a tio n : c la s s is d e f in e d b y a n in d iv id u a lʼs e c o n o m ic a ttr ib u te s, in c lu d in g w e a lth , in c o m e , p r o p e r ty o w n e r sh ip, e tc., a n d in f lu e n c e d b y fa c to r s s u c h a s e d u c a tio n , life s ty le e tc. r e la tio n a l: c la ss is d e f in e d b y th e e c o n o m ic r e la tio n s h ip s b e tw e e n g r o u p s , i.e. h o w ty p e s o f p e o p le r e la te to e a c h o th e r in th e p r o d u c tio n o f c o m m o d itie s Classes in Relational Theory c a p ita list c la ss ̶ p e o p le w h o d e r ive th e ir in c o m e fr o m o w n in g p r o d u c tive a s s e ts w o r k in g c la s s ̶ p e o p le w h o d e r ive th e ir in c o m e th r o u g h w a g e la b o u r Commodities and Commodification c o m m o d ity ̶ a ny th in g , ta n g ib le o r in ta n g ib le , th a t is p r o d u c e d to b e b o u g h t a n d s o ld o n a m a r ke t c o m m o d if ic a tio n ̶ th e c o nve r s io n o f th in g s th a t a r e n o t in tr in s ic a lly c o m m o d itie s, su c h a s tim e , a c tio n , th o u g h ts, e x p e r ie n c e s , fe e lin g s, o r s o c ia l g o o d s s u c h a s h e a lth o r e d u c a tio n , in to s o m e th in g b o u g h t a n d so ld o n a m a r ke t Marxʼs Relational Theory of Class means of production ̶ the materials, infrastructure, and natural resources used to produce commodities labour-power ̶ a human beingʼs ability to engage in productive labour bourgeoisie / capitalists ̶ the people who own the means of production, and hire workers (buy their labour-power) to do the work of production proletarians / workers ̶ the people who do not own the means of production, and must do paid work (must sell their labour-power) to live intermediate classes ̶ capitalists who live like workers: small business owners and farmers; workers who live like capitalists: highly skilled workers, intellectuals Marxʼs Relational Theory of Class n o tic e th a t th e c la sse s o f c a p ita lists a n d w o r ke r s a r e d e f in e d b y th e r e la tio n b e tw e e n th e m : th e b u y in g a n d s e llin g o f la b o u r-p o w e r th is r e la tio n e n ta ils a fu n d a m e n ta l c o n tra d ic tio n - th e w o r ke r s e lls th e ir la b o u r-p o w e r to b u y th e m e a n s fo r liv in g a h u m a n life - th e c a p ita lis t b u y s la b o u r-p o w e r in o r d e r to u s e w o r ke r s a s to o ls fo r p r o d u c in g p r o f it - th e r e fo r e th e c a p ita l-la b o u r r e la tio n is h u m a n iz in g a n d d e h u m a n iz in g a t th e s a m e tim e Alienation a lie n a tio n ̶ th e c o nve r s io n yo u r h u m a n la b o u r-p o w e r in to a c o m m o d ity a n d th e s a le o f th a t c o m m o d ity M a r x c la im e d th a t th e a lie n a tio n o f la b o u r-p o w e r m e a n s th a t w o r k in g p e o p le lo s e c o n tr o l o ve r th e u s e o f th e ir o w n tim e a n d e n e r g y, w h ic h le a d s to b e in g d is c o n n e c te d fr o m o n e ʼs o w n h u m a n ity h e a lso c la im e d th a t a lie n a tio n c o m p e ls p e o p le to se e e a c h o th e r a s c o m p e tito r s in a la b o u r m a r ke t in ste a d o f a s fe llo w h u m a n -b e in g s Whatʼs the worst job youʼve ever had? What made it bad? Whatʼs the best job youʼve ever had? What made it good? What makes for a good or a bad job? Exploitation s u rp l u s va l u e ̶ th e d i f feren c e b etween th e va l u e o f c o mmo d i ti es a wo rker p ro d u c es a n d th e va l u e th a t th ey a re p a i d fo r (tec h n i c a l l y, su rp l u s va l u e i s th e va l u e o f c o mmo d i ti es n ec essa r y to rep ro d u c e th e wo rker ʼs l a b o u r-p o wer) ex p l o i ta ti o n ̶ th e ta k i n g o f su rp l u s va l u e f ro m wo rkers by c a p i ta l i sts Exploitation in M a r x ʼs th e o r y, a ll p r o f it r e q u ir e s e x p lo ita tio n in th is te c h n ic a l se n se so in c a p ita lis t so c ie ty, th e r e is a h u g e c la ss o f w o r k in g p e o p le w h o p r o d u c e m o s t o f th e va lu e , a n d a s m a ll c la s s o f c a p ita lis ts w h o sip h o n o f f th e su r p lu s fo r th e m se lve s Letʼs pick a paid job What do you produce? Who decides what you do What tools or technology or at your job? infrastructure do you use? Class: A Relational Analysis What do you actually do at your job? Who owns that? Job What is produced? What does the worker do to produce it? Who decides what the worker does? What resources are used? Who owns those? PART THREE Intersectionality in te r se c tio n a l a n a ly sis ̶ a n a ly sis th a t a c c o u n ts fo r h o w fa c to r s su c h a s ra c e , g e n d e r, c la ss, se x u a lity, d is / a b ility, a n d c itize n sh ip, a m o n g o th e r s , in te r s e c t a n d in fo r m o n e a n o th e r s o th a t th e y b e c o m e m u tu a lly c o n stitu tive a n d a c t to g e th e r th e in te r s e c tio n o f d if fe r e n t fo r m s o f in e q u a lity p r o d u c e s q u a lita tive ly d is tin c t e x p e r ie n c e s ; fo r in s ta n c e , th e e x p e r ie n c e s o f B la c k w o m e n a r e d if fe r e n t fr o m th o se o f B la c k m e n a n d o f W h ite women Intersectionality sta n d p o in t m e a n s th a t th e se d if fe r e n t id e n titie s o r su b je c t p o sitio n s a r e n o t tra n sp a r e n t to o n e a n o th e r in so c ia l sc ie n c e , q u a lita tive r e se a r c h is n e c e ss a r y to b r in g o u t th e se d if fe r in g e x p e r ie n c e s a n d th e c o n n e c tio n s b e tw e e n th e m in e ve r y d ay life , th e b e st w ay to le a r n a b o u t in te r s e c tio n a lity is liste n in g w ith e m p a thy to p e o p le w h o a r e d if fe r e n t fr o m u s In a r e la tio n a l v ie w, th e m id d le c la ss m o s tly So What is c o n sists o f r e la tive ly p r iv ile g e d w o r ke r s the Middle se c u r ity, a n d p e r h a p s m o r e c o n tr o l o ve r Class? In o th e r w o r d s, th e m id d le c la s s is a w h o h ave b e tte r in c o m e s , m o r e jo b th e ir w o r k th a n le s s a d va n ta g e d w o r ke r s. p r iv ile g e d s e g m e n t o f th e w o r k in g c la s s , n o t r e a lly a se p a ra te c la ss. Intersectionally, middle-classness is white, So What is the Middle Class? cisheteronormative, and normatively abled, i.e. having an unmarked body Dividing marked from unmarked bodies produces a) barriers to entering and keeping middle-class jobs, and b) barriers to reaping the social benefits of those jobs Why the Middle Class is DISCUSSION Disappearing (CNBC) https://www.youtub e.com /watch?v=0 sj8pjt9Xk What does a relational theory of class tell us about why the middle class is squeezed and what can be done about it? GLOBAL TRENDS Neoliberalism neoliberalism is a set of economic policies with the following main elements: reduction of taxes (mainly for the wealthy and corporations) reduction of public expenditures on social programs, environmental protection, education, health care, etc. weakening of labour laws, environmental rules, and other restrictions on business practice international investment and trade through free trade deals Keynesianism (1930s-1970s) Neoliberalism (1980s-present) Control inflation by... Taxation Interest rates (money supply) Stimulate growth by... Public expenditure Tax incentives Social effects Stocks of social wealth; reduced inequality Reduced stocks of social wealth; growing inequality Neoliberalism N e o lib e ra lis m b e g a n in th e 1 9 8 0 s a n d h a s p r e d o m in a te d in m o s t c o u n tr ie s to th e p r e se n t d ay c r itic s say th a t n e o lib e ra lism h a s le d to f in a n c ia l in sta b ility a n d g r o w in g e c o n o m ic in e q u a lity b e tw e e n th e p o o r a n d m id d le-c la s s o n th e o n e h a n d a n d th e ve r y w e a lthy o n th e o th e r Precaritization one effect of loosening labour laws and weakening unions has been precaritization ̶ the replacement of secure, full-time jobs with insecure part-time, temporary, or contract gigs precaritization also encourages the intensification of labour ̶ pressure on employees to be more productive in the same amount of time, without increased compensation precarious service jobs often involve significant emotional labour ̶ the performance of specific emotions as part of providing service to others Global Inequality A s o f J a n u a r y 2019, th e 26 ri c h est p eo p l e i n th e wo rl d h a d th e sa me n et wea l th a s th e p o o res t 50% o f th e wo rl d ʼs p o p u l a ti o n , a c c o rd i n g to Ox f a m In 2017, 82% o f n ew wea l th g en era ted wen t to th e to p 1% o f th e g l o b a l p o p u l a ti o n rea so n s i n c l u d e: ta x eva si o n , th e ero si o n o f wo rker' s ri g h ts, g overn men t c o stc u tti n g , a n d b u s i n esses' i n f l u en c e o n p o l i c y d ec i si o n s h ttp s ://www. th eg u a rd i a n. c o m /b u s i n es s /2019/j a n /21/wo rl d -26-ri c h est-p eo p l eo wn -a s -mu c h -a s -p o o rest-50-p er-c en t-ox f a m-rep o r t h ttp s ://i n d ep th. ox f a m. o rg. u k /p u b l i c-g o o d -p ri va te-wea l th / source: By User:RoyBoy. - Chart was made by User:RoyBoy, using data initially published as Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez (2003), Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(1), 2003, 1-39. Data (and updates) available here and shown here: http://inequality. org/income-inequalityMore data sources: http://www. nytimes. com/interactive/2011/10/26/nyre gion/the-new-gilded-age. html?ref=politics http://gmond. parisschoolofeconomics. eu/topincomes, CC BYSA 3.0, https://commons. wikimedia. org/w/index. php?curid=16 872914 Global Inequality In 2020, th e 22 ri c h est men i n th e wo rl d h a d mo re wea l th th a n a l l th e wo men i n Af ri c a. Wo men a n d g i rl s p u t i n 12. 5 b i l l i o n h o u rs o f u n p a i d c a re wo rk ea c h a n d ever y d ay ̶a c o n tri b u ti o n to th e g l o b a l ec o n o my o f a t l ea s t $10. 8 tri l l i o n a yea r, mo re th a n th ree ti mes th e si ze o f th e g l o b a l tec h i n d u str y. G etti n g th e ri c h es t o n e p erc en t to p ay j u st 0. 5 p erc en t ex tra ta x o n th ei r wea l th over th e n ex t 10 yea rs wo u l d eq u a l th e i nvestmen t n eed ed to c rea te 117 mi l l i o n j o b s i n sec to rs su c h a s el d erl y a n d c h i l d c a re, ed u c a ti o n a n d h ea l th. h ttp s ://www. ox f a m. o rg /en /p res s -rel ea ses /wo rl d s-b i l l i o n a i res-h ave-mo rewea l th -46-b i l l i o n -p eo p l e h ttp s ://i n d ep th. ox f a m. o rg. u k /ti me-to -c a re / If yo u a r e s tr u g g lin g to a c h ie ve a ʻn o r m a lʼ m id d le -c la ss life , yo u a r e n o t a lo n e Conclusion Yo u r s tr u g g le s a r e s y m p to m a tic o f n a tio n a l a n d g lo b a l c h a n g e s to th e s tr u c tu r e o f w o r k a n d th e d is tr ib u tio n o f s o c ia l w e a lth Pe r h a p s w e n e e d to r e d e f in e s u c c e s s ; o r p e r h a p s w e n e e d a d if fe r e n t k in d o f e c o n o m y...