Classism and More Essay

Submitted By Johannes-Kieding
Words: 2369
Pages: 10
Open Document
Classism and More: The Case of Olga

Johannes Kieding
Smith College: School for Social Work

Specific Concept and Brief Explanation I am choosing the concept of class, specifically classism, for this assignment, but will generously spill over into race, or racism, and gender, or sexism, as well. Laura Smith (2005), in “Psychotherapy, Classism, and the Poor - Conspicuous by their Absence,” describes classism as a system of oppression that constitutes prejudice and power. “Oppression can be understood as prejudice plus power,” a system that “involves domination and control of social ideology, institutions, and resources, resulting in a condition of privilege for one group relative to the disenfranchisement of another” (p. 5). Smith continues by explaining that the upper classes have the “institutional and cultural power” to impose their prejudices through oppression. This structural dynamic of the upper classes oppressing the lower classes is classism. Essentially race refers to skin color. From a genetic point of view, race does not exist, but culturally, communally, and socially, race is real; source of rich sociocultural differences as well as heart-wrenching injustices and cruel inequalities. Smith's definition of classism, as including prejudice plus power, can also be used to define racism. From a structural point of view, then, racism is the sin of white folk. Cheryl Harris, in “Whiteness as Property,” refers to whiteness as “not only race, but race plus privilege” (p. 10). Racism is the institutional – particularly economic and political – oppressive power that the white race exerts upon people of color. Gender typically refers to the masculinity/femininity continuum, though is often lumped together with sex. Sexism, akin to classism and racism, entails the structural advantage that men have over women, and the various ways in which women are oppressed by men. Sherry Ortner (1995), in “Is Female to Male as Nature is to Culture?” posits that the rationale behind the idea that men are superior to women lies in the idea that women are closer to nature and men are closer to culture, and because humanity dominates nature through culture – such as technology – culture is superior to nature, and thus men are superior to women. This cultural construct, according to Ortner, serves as a rationale for sexism. I use sexism and patriarchy interchangeably.
The Significance of these Concepts for Social Work Practice Social work strives to aid and empower those in need, particularly people from minority groups that are marginalized and oppressed. This work can be clinical, as in direct psychotherapy, and it can take the form of more mezzo and macro-oriented work, work that involves communities, agencies, institutions, as well as social policy. In both clinical and community work, classism, along with racism and sexism, deserve ample attention. Aiding the poor, the oppressed, and the disadvantaged through psychotherapy that aims to heal inner wounds and empower the individual, as well as through community work that aims at correcting discriminatory legislation and social policy, social justice work that aims at creating a level, more equal playing field, is an integral part of being a social worker. Social work can also entail working with privileged individuals, healing the wounds that come from being oppressors, creating allies out of privileged people. Social workers, then, must have keen understandings of the realities of classism, racism, and sexism. Our work as social workers involves intervening on behalf of the poor, on behalf of people of color, and on behalf of women, making an understanding of the systems that oppress these populations crucial. Even in our work with privileged individuals (who, as Friere in “The Pedagogy of the Oppressed” so aptly describes, fail to embody their full humanity due to being oppressors) we as social workers need to understand classism, racism, and sexism
Show More

Related Documents: Classism and More Essay

Classism In Education Essay

Mahadi Ibrahim Hour 4 Heinz Topic: Classism IN education Classism is an issue that many people don’t know about or even cares about. Now you’re probably wondering what classism means it is unfair treatment of people because of their social class. Many people think that it will just go away but it’s not the country needs to start solving and giving fair treatment to others not because of their social class. In this paper I will be talking about classism in many things in education, athletics and the…

Words 578 - Pages 3

Examples Of Sexism In To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee writes about the people and how they discriminate or how they are being discriminated against. Scout realizes the rights and wrongs of classism, sexism, and racism and how these isms hurt society. In the tiny town of Maycomb, everyone knows everyone and everyone is put into a class. Scout realizes the rights and wrongs of classism through her school and home life. Jem tells Scout that there are 4 different classes in Maycomb. First, there are the ordinary people like him, Scout…

Words 675 - Pages 3

Classism In Sociology

Classism is held in place by a system of beliefs that ranks people according to economic status, family lineage, job, and level of education. Classism says that dominant group members are smarter and more articulate than working class subordinated groups. In this way, dominant group members (upper middle class and wealthy people) define for everyone else…

Words 419 - Pages 2

Environmental Racism: African American And Latino Community

Environmental Racism and Classism have many negative effects on certain groups of society in relation to the negative elements of the environment including landfills, hazardous chemicals, and many other burdens of the environment. Environmental Racism is the belief that African American and Latino communities are force to take the burden of landfills at a higher ratio in relation to Caucasian communities. Environmental Classism is the belief that poor communities are forced to take the same burden…

Words 1556 - Pages 7

Multifaceted Intersectionality: Social Injustice

described by Kimberle Crenshaw as the crossroads where multiple social injustices issues such as Racism, Sexism, Classism, etc meet. Furthermore, Crenshaw explains that each issue represents a road that can overlap causing a more complex definition of what a social injustice can include. Thus, when specific issues such as Race and Sexism meet, they develop a simultaneous impact that describes a more complex thread of a social injustice taking place. An example would be how Racism can intersect with Sexism…

Words 901 - Pages 4

Prejudice In The Criminal Justice System

In 2017 there is still a presence of racism and classism and this affects one field that’s supposed to rely on fairness: the American Criminal Justice System. The American Justice system is heavily and unfortunately affected by classism and racism. It has been from the very beginning, and can affect future generations. Prejudice in the American criminal justice system can be traced back to the beginning. An example would be slavery. To suppress riots and runaways, harsh punishments were carried…

Words 964 - Pages 4

Rosario Castellano's The Nine Guardians

deserve the land. His failure to bring about a revolution in the text, however, shows Felipe cannot transcend his inborn status due to the opposition from his own people who are so accustomed to the system of subjugation. Hence, the text criticizes the classism that inhibits even the most enlightened individuals from surpassing their inborn…

Words 1240 - Pages 5

Criminology In American History X

In my opinion there are several notable incidents in American History X I feel that explains how the Vineyard family fell victim to the violence surrounding them. More importantly, these stages criminal of events severely impact their social, economic, and behaviors. Thus, constitutive criminology has changed their lives into a perspective that holds their lifestyles contributing significantly to both the volume and type of crime found in any society. The movie opens with Derek and his girlfriend…

Words 1306 - Pages 6

Essay on Descriptive: Middle Class Individuals

among poor black high school students” (Gorski, 2008). To put it simply, wealthy high school students have more access to high end drugs and alcohol than low income high school students and are more likely to become substance abusers themselves. Gorski cautions educators with a “myth of a ‘culture of poverty’ distracts us from dangerous culture that does not exist-the culture of classism” (Gorski, 2008). In addition, “And, worst of all, it diverts attention from what people in poverty do have…

Words 942 - Pages 4

From Innocent To Exposed To Kill A Mocking Bird Essay

pace, making her digest the facts that prejudice, hypocrisy and malevolence truly exists in society. In the novel there are many examples of which demonstrate the terrible discrimination people of Maycomb present, from racism to sexism and even classism. An example of racial discrimination that lurks around in Maycomb’s people is how even though Atticus had done everything he can for the case; Tom Robinson still lost the trial because of his skin colour. Atticus had a remarkable defence compared…

Words 2040 - Pages 9