we all got class

[Netzach]

It's very hard to go from bitchiness to courtesy.

My lifelong work, it isn't easy.

 

[Shadowann2]

I grew up in the upper middle class, but it was "new" money, not old. My father was the oldest of 5 kids, and both my grandparents were school teachers. Dad became a doctor, and a very accomplished one at that. But he never let the money got to his head, and always taught me manners and courtesy. Those were the vales that he grew up in, and he passed them on to me. I grew up getting the best education money could buy, but much to my dad's disappointment, I have never had the drive he did. Maybe it's because I'm adopted so I couldn't inherit that gene from him.

Since I moved out of my dad's house, I've been lower middle class or lower. I've been married to men with little education, and little drive. Many times my father had to give us money, just so we could put food on the table. I have rarely worked because we couldn't afford daycare for me to work. I would have made very little money over the cost of child care. Now I'm with a man who is well educated, and more driven, I think, than even my father. I hope that he can find a job soon and we can pull ourselves out of this hole of debt that we are in. Jobs at his level just aren't available in this economy. If he can attain a job at the level he is qualified for, we should be solidly in the middle class.

 

[graceanne]

My lifelong work, it isn't easy.

Ah, but you do it with style! *hugs*

 

[JMohegan]

I can play the roll of one step up when required. I still have the uniform of the upper middle class sales manager in my closet. Blazer, oxblood shoes with tassels and matching color belt, summer weight wool slacks, white button down shirts that have been professionally laundered with light starch. Because I was reaching "up" to work in that world I see folks in that uniform and I assume they are also "faking it" but not owing it - and that is a personality defect I am working on.

Faking what, specifically?

I see that uniform as symbolic of subservience to the system. A tie like a noose, those shoes restrictive of movement.

 

[rinka]

Oh... class...

In the last few years I feel that the gap between the classes are growing constantly here in Sweden. A 100 years of mainly socialdemocratic government have changed the makeup of the classes, but far from erased them. And the last few years politics have made the segregation worse.

Aarrgh, I have so much to say about this, but can't seem to sort through it at the moment. I just want a revolution.

One thing though to add to the discussion of differences in values in raising our children is other forms of symbolical capital. Family connections, exposure to different cultural expressions, reading, knowledge of the world outside of your social sphere. These and many other aspects define other social layers within the classes. Money is a big one, but partly because it sets the limits for many of the others.

Meh, very unarticulated right now. Will be back.

 

[Shankara20]

Faking what, specifically?

I see that uniform as symbolic of subservience to the system. A tie like a noose, those shoes restrictive of movement.

"subservience to the system" yup, I'll go along with that.

I was faking just about everything - from the way I cut my hair to pretending I liked and agreed with the neo-conservative grocers that were my accounts. I even spent a day with one asshole getting custom made cowboy boots for us both to secure a contract (I still have the boots - they are great) - I expect he still thinks I agree with his world view.

I was a wimp and had sold out to "the system" for soooooo long...

 

[Shankara20]

I just want a revolution.

aka "class warfare"