Month: March 2021

i) Normative Narratives

Is class something that really exists? Or is it similar to racism in the ways that it is self-created based on the way you look or think about someone. In the five types of knowledge in our notes, we were told about the “personal and cultural knowledge” this refers to the explanations and interpretations people acquire from their personal experiences in their homes, with their family and community cultures. The knowledge gained through these experiences is transferred both explicitly, such as direct lessons taught by family members on what constitutes politeness (e.g., “make eye contact with your elders”), as well as implicitly through messages such as what isn’t talked about (e.g., race or money). When thinking about the story I wrote and comparing and looking for normative narratives in Brandon’s post about Standing out like a sore thumb, it occurred to me that Brandon was put into a situation where there was surely going to be somebody looking at him for the way he was dressed. The appearance he gave off enabled someone else to view him differently than he actually might be. Is that right, no. But he also admits to having been guilty of the exact same thoughts in his life. The line where he says “then I realize I was being looked at for being working class inside of high-class business building” gave me the impression that he was just doing his job but being judged because what the job was, what he was wearing, and where he was. At the end of the day, we are all humans. We all have thoughts and a distorted look at someone can spark a multitude of conversations these days. In Christa’s story about her Free Breakfast, she too has thoughts about people without knowing who they are or what their home life is like. Not only does she realize that some young kids “rely on community or schools for basic life essentials” but also that she is fortunate enough to have the privilege of coming from a family that is stable and is able to provide support and resources when needed.

In my experience with the job I have worked for the past 8 years, I too would be put into the same situation if I entered a building like the one Brandon described. Would I be judged for not being a high-class person dressed for success? Probably yes. I can easily relate and think about experiences where this would be true for me. When comparing his story to my story, there was opportunity for me to be judged the same way for entering a house that was crazy expensive compared to my own. Considering everyone was wearing Halloween costumes this wasn’t the case. If it were on any other day, it makes me think that it is a real possibility that I could have been looked at as less than for my appearance when my friend was from a rich class.

The three blog posts display simple examples of what class we are in and the different ways the classes can be portrayed by the people around us. When somebody looks at somebody thoughts automatically come to mind based on their appearance. Is their hair neat or messy, are their shoes new or old, name brand or not, do their clothes have rips or are they neat? These are all questions that can categorize which class they are from in our minds. These stories will continue to be a reality in many people’s lives based solely on the fact that we as humans seem to always need to identify someone in a way that makes sense to us. Since reading these stories, I too have begun to wonder where I need to go in life on my path to better myself and treat all people as equal. Growing up a popular quote that was instilled in me and the people around me was “treat others just as you would like to be treated”. Thinking back, I am and will be forever grateful for being told that quote. Now, more than ever, I need to continue to live by it.

ii) Disrupting normative narratives 

Megan’s self-story displays a different angle than the other stories I have encountered. In her story, the classism was shown by something that happened with her and her family rather than someone else looking at her as less than, or her realizing what class she is in because of what someone else has. She went through a situation where she was on the lower-class side and put into a situation that, for a 10-year-old, would not make any sense. Being a young girl just wanted to go on a field trip for with her friends it would have been devastating to not have the money or food for lunch in order to go. Her story was not about what she was wearing, what her appearance was like, but simply what the income was like for her family at home. Immediately thinking and putting together that her family would slot into the lower class, I thought about how my story, Brandon’s story, and Christa’s story were all middle to working class.

Stories have the ability to silence other stories by just how hard they hit someone while reading. For example, if I was to be in a rich class and something were to happen to me where I was upset because my mom didn’t pack my favourite lunch one day at school. Then looking over to one of my friends not being able to eat lunch at school because they don’t have one is an instance where I would need to realize my privilege and understand I should be grateful I am able to eat. Some people fail to see it this way. It is understanding for children because they are innocent most of the time and need a certain amount of time to realize how the world works. Certain stories can disrupt normative narratives because of the underlying facts that we may not get to know about firsthand. Is there systematic race involved with parents and the opportunity for work is not available? Has there been a change in occupation because of an in injury or a loss. These types of things can play a large role in the class one is put into. You may be slotted into a working class because of the occupation your parents have when you are age 10, but a move to the lower class is possible if the income is not there.

In the post on Debunking the “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” myth it states that “they’re blamed for their own lack of wealth and shamed when they reach out for help”. Referring to the lower-class people, this could be why in Megan’s story her parents continue to put off the signing of the permission slip for the class field trip. In a way trying to “silence” the fact that the money was not available at the time to send Megan on her trip, knowing that there would be an upset 10-year-old. In the three other stories, the classism was not silenced, my mom knew full well who’s house I was going too for the Halloween party and looking back, I believe she knew that I would realize what classes were which even though we did not discuss it. Brandon was faced head on inside a building filled with high class people, and Christa’s story had her mom explaining why she may or may not have been chosen to have a snack on that particular day. I found the article on Debunking the “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” myth the most appealing because of the myths that are listed. “We All Have Equal Opportunity, Poor People Just Aren’t Trying Hard Enough” are the two myths listed. After reading all that was said about both of them, reading them again is laughable. Having the opportunity to be wealthy after coming from a poor family is possible, but rarely true. Yet is still accepted by people who fail to see the big picture. “If we lived in a land of equal opportunity, every hardworking American would be able to snag a low-wage job, scrimp and save their way to a stable life, and move up as they gain experience” this quote is a prime example as to how it is not possible to have equal opportunity. How is everyone working for a particular company able to move up and up at the same level as each other, when as you move up job positions, there becomes less of them. Not everyone can be a boss, or a manager, or an executive and the list goes on. This goes to show that the statement of everyone having an equal opportunity, is a bust.

As a young kid growing up, I had thick brown hair. Not only was it thick (just what my hairdresser told me) but it was typically kept short because my mom liked it short, which I understood. Grade 6 had come along and one day I walked upstairs with determination after having cinnamon toast crunch for breakfast and said to my mom “can I grow my hair out a little longer than usual”. At first, she was completely opposed to the idea, but she claimed she would consider it. As I got into the car after school that day there was a weird mood in the air. There was me, my brother, my sister and my mom and nobody said a word the whole way home and nobody really knew why, but I did. Upon arriving at home after the mysterious drive home I went straight to my room, expecting my mom to come up and refuse my request from the morning. Five to ten minutes go by and I can hear my parents discussing something downstairs, but I struggle to truly understand what is being said. Then all of a sudden, it is quiet, very quiet. The next thing I heard was footsteps coming up the stairs and towards my room. My dad opens the door and comes in and jokingly says, “you can grow your hair, but you better not look like a girl”. Being a young kid in that moment, I didn’t really think much of it.

Waking up the next day I wanted to pay more attention to the lengths of hair people had at school and which gender they were. As we got in the car to go to school the next day, I was on a mission. But as I got in the car I looked up at my mom, then looked down, but something was different that morning. I looked back up and noticed she had short hair. I had obviously known this prior to that day, but it was intriguing to me. When we arrived at school I got out of the car and immediately was looking around for people to see how long their hair was. It was nice enough to be outside before the bell rang, so there were a few teachers and all the students outside. There was two female teachers and one male teacher. One female teacher had long hair and the other had short. The male teacher had short hair. I found this interesting. Next was the students, there was all the hair lengths and styles one could imagine. When I took the time to truly look, there was all different lengths between males and females. In my head I am thinking “who is my dad to tell me I would look like a girl, and why would that be so bad?”. Just because I am a boy, what does it matter how long my hair is. I was truly blown away by his comment and wow did I ever have some words for my dad when I got home.

This entire scenario has stuck with me since that day and every time a topic comes up about gender it comes back to me. Yes, I am a male and have understood that for a long time, but I also understand how to respect people for which gender they are and not think differently about them for who they are. It is an ongoing topic in the world, and I continue to read and learn about gender equality.