Class discrimination

Some people are treated unfairly. This can happen because of money. It can also happen because of jobs. This is called classism.

Long ago, groups of people lived in different ways. Some had more food than others. This helped create different classes. People were often grouped by their work.

In some places, people were treated poorly. This was because they were poor. It was also unfair to people of different colors. This makes life hard for many.

Sometimes, movies show people in a bad way. This can make others think it is true. This is not right. We can learn to be kind to everyone.

Classism is when people are treated unfairly. This happens because of social class. Class is a way to group people. It is based on money, jobs, and school.

Long ago, groups of people lived in different ways. Some had more food than others. This led to more complex classes. In some places, people were grouped by their work. For example, some were nobles and some were peasants.

Classism often works with other unfair things. It can mix with racism or sexism. This makes life harder for many groups. For instance, women often have jobs with low pay. This can make it hard for them to save money. Black women often work in jobs like home aid. These jobs often pay less.

Classism can be personal. This is when one person judges another. It can also be institutional. This means the unfairness is built into how society works. Even movies can show classism. They might show poor people in a bad way. This can change how people think about others.

Class discrimination is also called classism. It happens when people are treated unfairly based on their social class. Social class is a way to group people into a hierarchy. This grouping is based on wealth, income, and education. It also looks at a person's job and their social networks. Classism can be personal or institutional. Personal classism is when one person judges another based on their own beliefs. Institutional classism is when unfair rules are built into society. These rules can be intentional or they might happen by accident. This type of unfairness can affect how whole groups of people live.

History shows how these class structures began. Long ago, simple groups existed before people started farming. Once people started permanent agriculture, they could grow extra food. This food surplus led to more complex social structures. People were often separated into classes by things people could see. These traits included a person's job or their race. In feudal systems, there were many different levels. These included nobles, priests, warriors, merchants, peasants, and serfs. The ranking of these groups often changed depending on the place. For example, merchants were high in Europe but low in Japan.

Classism often mixes with other types of unfair treatment. This is sometimes called intersectionality. Classism can combine with racism or sexism to create more problems. This makes it even harder for certain groups to succeed. For instance, women often work in jobs with lower pay. They are often found in sectors like retail or caregiving. In 2022, Black women made up 32% of home aids. However, they only made up 6% of all employed workers. These women earned an average of $23,803 per year.

These overlapping systems can create a heavy burden. A person might face unfairness because of their race and their class at once. This can affect their ability to get an education or a good job. In some places, like India, classism also mixes with the caste system. In the United States, poor people in the colonies faced both class and racial bias. This bias led people to treat them as "not quite white." Even today, people who receive help from social policies may face discrimination. This can happen from people who do not receive those same benefits.

Media like movies and social media also play a big role. Shows and films often display ideas about what different classes are like. Sometimes, the media shows people with low incomes in a negative way. They might be shown as lacking manners or being uneducated. These images can shape how children and adults think about others. If children see these biases early, it can change their beliefs for a long time. Even though class is important, movies often focus more on race or gender. Understanding how media shows class can help us see these biases more clearly.

Class discrimination, often called classism, is prejudice based on a person's social class. Social class is a hierarchy that groups individuals together. This grouping is based on wealth, income, education, and occupation. It also considers a person's social networks. Classism includes individual attitudes and behaviors. It also involves systems of policies and practices. These systems often benefit the upper class at the expense of the lower class.

Classism can function in two primary ways: personal and institutional. Personal classism, or interpersonal classism, involves an individual's inclination to judge others. These judgments are based on rigid beliefs rather than objective evidence. Institutional classism refers to how classism is built into society. This can be manifest through conscious or unconscious practices within various institutions. Some experts also include "cultural classism" as a third category. These structures can be intentional or unintentional.

History shows that class structures have evolved over time. Simple forms existed in pre-agricultural societies. However, structures became more complex after the rise of permanent agriculture. This happened because civilizations created a food surplus. People were often segregated into classes using observable traits. These traits included a person's profession or their race. In feudal systems, classes included nobles, priests, warriors, merchants, peasants, and serfs. Rankings varied by location. For example, merchants held high status in Europe. In contrast, they were considered inferior to peasants during Japan's Tokugawa Shogunate.

Classism often intersects with other forms of inequality. This intersectionality means that class, race, and gender overlap. This creates unique and compounding disadvantages for marginalized groups. For instance, gender inequality and classism shape economic disparities. Women are often overrepresented in low-wage sectors like caregiving and retail. This is known as occupational segregation. In 2022, Black women made up 32% of home aids. However, they represented only 6% of all employed workers. These women earned an average of $23,803 per year.

Race and class also intersect to create systemic barriers. Historical labor policies and unequal education access contribute to income inequality. Racial minorities often face employment precarity and wage suppression. This leads to reduced economic mobility compared to white counterparts. In some cases, symbolic racism occurs within poor communities. This involves using negative stereotypes to justify social exclusion. Poverty itself can act as a discriminatory label. People who receive social policy benefits may face discrimination from those who do not.

Scholars use complex models to explain these power structures. The concept of "kyriarchy" describes a complex pyramidal system of oppression. In this system, those at the bottom experience the full power of oppression. This system is often the status quo, making it hard to recognize. Deborah King proposed the idea of "multiple jeopardy." She argued that systems of race, gender, and class do not just add up. Instead, they compound and intensify one another. This creates unique conditions of subjugation that are more than the sum of their parts.

Media also plays a significant role in reinforcing classism. Television, films, and social media influence how people perceive different classes. Often, media portrays lower-income individuals negatively. They may be shown as uneducated, dirty, or lacking manners. These portrayals can shape the biases of children at a young age. This can influence their beliefs throughout their entire lives. While media often focuses on race or gender, class is a vital variable. Understanding these representations helps us see how classism remains prevalent in society.