In reading Gregory Mantsios, "Class in America", it revealed many things 1. Our government is continuously lying to us and 2. If we don't inform ourselves we are doomed to repeat this cycle. Class has become a rather taboo topic in our society, many shy away from class because they don't want to acknowledge it exists. Our nation prides itself on meritocracy and anyone who works hard enough can be successful, we know this to be entirely false. A lower class family can work their entire lives, as many do, and still remain in the lower class standing.
On the other hand, our country prides itself for being a "middle- class nation" (one of the lies I alluded to earlier). The simple fact is our nation is only keeping the poor, poor and allowing the rich to get richer. The "middle class" is shrinking and the divide between rich and poor is growing bigger each year. This article outlines some myths (lies) surrounding class in our society: 1. We live in a classless society and are all equal in the eyes of the law 2. We are a middle class nation 3. We’re all getting richer 4. Everyone has an equal chance to succeed. The reason class has become such a taboo topic is because class brings privilege. And as we've learned in class most people with privilege are 1. unaware of that privilege and 2. don't like to discuss their privilege. Those of higher class standings are afforded certain liberties those of lower/working classes cannot attain i.e. better health care, good education, better jobs, better housing, and wealth.
These differences not only affect our livelihood but also our physical and mental stability.
Future generations are almost guaranteed to repeat this cycle because they can only play the cards they are dealt. Those who are born into higher standing classes have a higher likelihood of being successful than someone from a lower class family. This so- called growing middle class is the way society tries to reject the truth of class oppression. Class oppression can be just as detrimental as race and gender oppression but also offers privilege to marginalized groups. A minority or woman can be granted certain privileges if they're rich. These article also reveals many realities surrounding the lies of the growing middle class ranging from the lack of accessibility to not every American being given a chance to succeed. What are some ways in which we could combat these class infrastructures to truly uphold the meaning of meritocracy?
