1. Introduction
Classism is held in place by a system of beliefs and cultural attitudes that ranks people according to economic status, family lineage, job status, level of education, and other divisions.1 Therefore, class often overlaps with geographical regions and professions.2 In some societies, class determines social status and class mobility is greatly hindered by inequality.2 For many people, this is a difficult and emotionally charged topic that is difficult to openly discuss.2 Class is not one of the protected characteristics specified in the 2010 Equality Act.2 However, this does not mean that class discrimination will not occur.2 Due to the different classes people belong to, they have different views on other classes. This may lead to the emergence of class discrimination: people often discriminate against people of lower class than themselves.
2. History of classism
Poor people are almost always discriminated against, which can be traced back to the BC era.3 It began with the economy and wealth becoming important in society.3 Since then, those in the lower class have been looked down upon.3 With the passage of time, money has become increasingly important to people around the world, so those who have a small amount of money have been increasingly criticized.3 This issue has been evolving throughout history until it reaches its current height.3 In the past, the definition of social class was more clear, with aristocrats and nobility at the top, and farmers and laborers at the bottom.4 This has resulted in a rigid social hierarchy that is difficult to break.4 Today, although social classes are not as clear, class ideology still exists and the wealth gap continues to widen.4 It is very clear that classicism has existed for a long time, and we need to make great efforts to reduce the occurrence of class discrimination.
3. Example
3.1 Film
A Korean movie that left a deep impression on me vividly showcased class discrimination, and it was directed by Bong Joon ho's Parasite. This movie depicts the complex relationships and profound conflicts between social classes through the intersection of two families with huge income disparities. The Jin family lives in a dimly crowded semi underground apartment, which not only symbolizes their economic situation but also reflects their status in the social class. In contrast, the Park family lives in spacious and bright modern villas, symbolizing wealth, status, and power. There are many details in movies that can also reflect class discrimination. Mr. Park is satisfied with the work ability of the father of the Kim family, but as his subordinate, the father of the Kim family cares about his personal life. This makes Park very dissatisfied, reflecting his discrimination against the lower class. Ms. Park initially expressed doubts about the abilities of members of the Kim family, believing that people from the lower class were not capable of working for her. On a deeper level, the Park family's aversion to the scent of the Kim family symbolizes profound class division and prejudice, which is also the trigger for the Kim family's father's murder of Park at the end of the movie. Parasite has a unique artistic technique and profound social observation, successfully presenting issues of class discrimination and social inequality to audiences around the world. It is not only an entertaining and artistic film, but also a mirror reflecting the complexity and contradictions of contemporary society.
3.2. Research
3.2.1
A paper (Bastos, J.L. et al. 2014) researched the impact of discrimination based on age, class, and race on the mental health of university students in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The authors found that class and skin color/racial discrimination are also associated with mental illness. This discovery supports long-term data from different socio-cultural backgrounds in Brazil, revealing the complex interactions and mutual importance of skin color, race, and class in the country.(Bastos, J.L. et al. 2014) The impact of class discrimination is slightly higher, with class having a slight advantage in racial issues among college students in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.(Bastos, J.L. et al. 2014) According to the research participants, class is considered the most important source of inequality in Brazilian society, and therefore socio-economic status will be one of the most important obstacles to reducing racism in Brazil.(Bastos, J.L. et al. 2014) At the same time, the study emphasizes that although any type of discrimination is harmful, experiencing the combined effects of multiple types of discrimination simultaneously has the highest risk of mental health problems.
3.2.2
The results of another research (Allan, et al. 2016), also targeting college students, highlight the challenges some students face on university campuses. Students from lower social backgrounds and first generation students experience class discrimination more frequently, and their life and academic satisfaction are also lower. (Allan, et al. 2016) In addition, some class discrimination is systemic: due to economic constraints, students claim to be excluded from the classroom, sports teams, student organizations, and social activities. (Allan, et al. 2016) I believe that in response to these inequalities, not only students need to eliminate such discrimination, but schools also need to take some measures. For example, promoting the elimination of class discrimination or offering lectures to provide a warm environment for students from low social backgrounds.
4. Solution
Firstly, we need to start raising awareness.5 We must inform the public about this issue.5 Whether through websites, newspapers, social media, or one-on-one communication.5 People need to know that we are dealing with a real problem.5 Every day, children, adolescents, and adults face discrimination due to their economic and social status.5 Children especially need to learn to be themselves.5 Don't judge others, and don't let others judge us.5 Tell people not to discriminate against others based on their social and economic status.5 Incorporate training on socio-economic discrimination in the context of work into diversity, fairness, and inclusivity training, and more specifically, include unconscious bias training.6 We can also utilize our class privileges, such as donating food, clothing, money, etc., and volunteering at local homeless shelters.7 Find different ways of working to help combat class ideology and poverty.7 Classism is a problem that can never be completely eradicated, but small changes in the way we think, act, and respond to others can have a huge impact.5 Regarding class ideology, everyone in our society needs to make their own efforts to make more people aware that class ideology should not exist.
5. In conclusion
Classism is not a simple prejudice, but a combination of prejudice and institutional power.8 Anyone, regardless of class, may have class bias, prejudice, or inclination.8 The solution first needs to raise awareness and cultivate a culture of tolerance and respect, regardless of their socio-economic status. Although eliminating class discrimination may not be achieved overnight, gradual changes in attitudes and behaviors may lead to significant changes in society. Meeting this challenge requires joint efforts from all sectors of society to eliminate class ideology and promote a more equitable world.
Reference
1(No date) What is classism - congressional hunger center. Available at: https://hungercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/What-is-Classism.pdf (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
2What is classism? (no date) What is Classism? - Report + Support - The University of Edinburgh. Available at: https://reportandsupport.ed.ac.uk/pages/what-is-classism (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
3History of classism (no date) Stop Classism. Available at: https://helpstopclassism.weebly.com/history-of-classism.html (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
4Ricee, S., K, L. and Susanne Ricee Susanne Ricee is the Diversity and Inclusion Specialist and Researcher at Diversity for Social Impact. Sue brings over 15 years of HR and Diversity (2023) What is classism?, Diversity for Social Impact. Available at: https://diversity.social/classism/ (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
5Solution (no date) Stop Classism. Available at: https://helpstopclassism.weebly.com/solution.html (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
6Pearse, E. (2023) What can we do about class discrimination in employment?, Napthens Solicitors. Available at: https://www.napthens.co.uk/news/what-can-we-do-about-class-discrimination-in-employment/ (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
7Classism (no date) Student Affairs. Available at: https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/stanford-against-hate/classism#do (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
8Research guides: Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Classism: Socioeconomic status (no date) Classism | Socioeconomic Status - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Research Guides at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Available at: https://pct.libguides.com/anti-oppression/classism (Accessed: 06 February 2024).
Bastos, J.L. et al. (2014) ‘Age, class and race discrimination: Their interactions and associations with mental health among Brazilian University students’, Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 30(1), pp. 175–186. doi:10.1590/0102-311x00163812.
Allan, B.A., Garriott, P.O. and Keene, C.N. (2016) ‘Outcomes of social class and classism in first- and continuing-generation college students.’, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(4), pp. 487–496. doi:10.1037/cou0000160.
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