will barratt, ph.d.. as we move through this experience think about your own story, your...
TRANSCRIPT
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
14 Points About
Social Class on Campus
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
As we move through this experience think about your own story, your classnography.
Later tonight, write it down. Tomorrow, reflect on it.
Your classnography
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
What is the majority social class student like on this campus?◦ What do her parents do?◦ What brands does she wear?◦ What is her attitude toward college?◦ Is she entitled or does she ask permission to do
things?◦ Where might she experience class contrast on
campus?
Question about Misty
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
It is about economies and collective individual economic actions
1a. Social class is economic
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
It is about societies and collective individual social actions
1b. Social class is sociological
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
It is about you and it is about me
1c. Social class is personal
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Income is potential wealth Wealth is having more than you owe
Are a truck driver with an $80,000 income and her nurse husband with a $50,000 income in the upper-middle class?
Is a professor with a $50,000 income in the middle-middle class?
2. Social class is income and wealth
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
People talk as though class is money. People act as though class is prestige.
3. Social class is prestige
4. Class is a collection of subcultures arranged in a hierarchy of prestige
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Social class of origin◦ Where we came from
Current felt social class◦ What we think of our selves today
Attributed social class◦ What others think of us today
5. Social class is an identity
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Economic capital Cultural capital Social capital Academic capital Others?
6. Social class is capital
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Occupations are prestige ranked based on our collective beliefs.
7. Social class is occupational prestige
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Income and occupational prestige are related to educational attainment.
Does getting a degree automatically change who you are?
8. Social class is educational attainment
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Campus organizational structures Student organizations Formal and informal relationships with
faculty
9. Social class is a system of structures and relationships
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Props Costumes Blocking Scripts
10. Social class is an enacted role
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Class based norms are reinforced on campus by faculty, students, administrators, and staff.◦ Who is the “good student”?
Economic capital Cultural capital Social capital Academic capital
11. The reproduction of social class
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
College admissions creates barriers for students who went to economically poor schools.◦ Should we penalize people for being poor by
putting them in poor quality public schools, telling them they won’t succeed, and creating barriers to higher education?
The reproduction of social class
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Campus norms reflect the majority class culture, usually upper-middle class.
Anyone not native to that culture, above or below, will experience class contrast.
Poor campus-student fit will result in students leaving
13. Social class contrast
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
The best predictor of college success is family income.
High school student leaders become college student leaders.
Some people were born on 3rd base and think they hit a triple.
(Attributed to B. Switzer)
Campus is not a level playing field
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
We are all middle class The working class is disappearing We can all just get along Working harder will lead to a rise in class Education is the key to upward class
mobility Everyone wants to get ahead
14. Myths
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Upward or downward class mobility displaces people from their family of origin
Drugs and mental illness are important factor in downward class mobility
People with the most education make and enforce the rules of society
There are very few members of the elite class, the very rich
Bonus Point. Truths
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree you are among the 29% most educated people in the US
If you have a Master’s degree you are among the 9% most well educated people in the US
If you have a PhD or professional degree you are among the 2% most well educated people in the US
Bonus Point. Truths
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
What is it like on this campus when you are not in the majority class group?◦ Relationships with faculty?◦ Relationships with students?◦ Do you try to ‘class pass’?
Question
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
How do you begin a caring, considerate, and developmental conversation about class with a majority class student?
Question
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Questions? Comments? Do you want to know the secret handshake
of the ruling class?
Will Barratt, Ph.D.
Will Barratt, Ph.D. [email protected]
Special thanks to: Ashley Taylor Diversity Advocacy Dean of Students Office ISU
Thanks