1. Class What kind of society do we live in?

2. Class Defined  It is an experienced of shared economic circumstances and shared social and cultural practices in relation to positions of power.

3. Some Realities  All are born into a class.  Class affects one’s life including access and opportunities.  One will probably remain in the same class as one’s family.

4. Classes  Upper Rich  Middle White Collar (middle) Working  Lower Poor

5. Middle Class(es)  White Collar (Middle) Job autonomy Manager “desk” “Higher” status College education and beyond  Trend More Lower paying white collar jobs.  Working Hourly Managed Physical Lower status High School and lower  Trend Fewer higher paying blue collar jobs.

6. Ideas of Class  Class is generational Although there have been changes in technology (bank clerks, plumbers, etc.) from times past the structure is still in place.  Class structure is observable One can see one’s class by matching it against others or certain circumstances.  Class intersects other identities One’s class is part of one’s other identities (race, ethnicity, gender)  Class structure is organized. If one were to take a look at class one would see how class is organized. For example someone controls who works and the level of education required for it.  Class has an consciousness of consequence. We strive to emulate those at the top. However, there is a mutuality with others of similar background and/or group position.

7. Cloaking of class  Working class people are invisible. their intelligence is devalued. their experience is devalued.  Visibility is linked to power and knowledge Working class people are invisible because they do not have access to how things (education, books, structures) are structured. They are the objects.

8. Example  “When the story is told from the top down, we learn about the feat of building the railroad, how it opened new frontiers and provided jobs. We may not hear that 10,000 Chinese and 3,000 Irish got the opportunity to earn about $1.00 a day; and die by the hundreds building those railroads.” p. 106.

9. Sources  http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/movie/0,61 15,229763~1~0~catsmeow,00.html http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/movie/0,61 15,229763~1~0~catsmeow,00.html  http://www.hvmusic.com/albums_kq.shtml http://www.hvmusic.com/albums_kq.shtml  http://www.marxists.org/subject/art/visual_arts/pa inting/exhibits/socialist-realism/young-steel- workers.jpg http://www.marxists.org/subject/art/visual_arts/pa inting/exhibits/socialist-realism/young-steel- workers.jpg  http://crossroadsmedicalmission.org/operations/ patients/ http://crossroadsmedicalmission.org/operations/ patients/