My dad's mom was part of the upper middle class, and she married down to my dad's dad who was part of the lower class. My dad grew up a member of the lower class. My mom's mom was middle class and my mom's dad leaned towards the lower class. My mom grew up as a part of the upper middle class. I plan to be an actress and most stage actors do not make very much money. Therefore, due to my career choice, I will probably become a member of the lower class. However, If I am a successful Broadway actress, I could be part of the middle class.
My family class mobility seems to be based on career choice. My dad's parents were in the lower class, because my grandfather had trouble maintaining his glass business. My mom's dad was able to move up in class because he had a successful tavern and restaurant. My mom moved us up to the upper middle, because she became a well-paid accountant.
The class mobility seems to also depend on education. My dad's dad never went to college. My mom's dad went to junior college. My mom earned her Master's degree. For me, my success will depend on talent rather than bettering myself through education. However, I will be attending college.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Blue Collar
The two groups that were presented in the movie as glamorizing the blue collar life style were trying to show appreciation and longing for the genuine nature of blue collar people. They were not making fun of the blue collar people, however, they were being condescending. For example, the yuppies that went to the "dive bar" would spend their weekends with the blue collared but then return to their comfortable middle class life. They were hypocrites, because they claimed to appreciate how genuine blue collared people were but they themselves were not genuine. They would put on a facade during the week and use the dive bars as a form of escapism.
People are comfortable making references to class stereotypes, because they personally do not associate themselves with a certain class. If someone does not commit themselves to one class they have the freedom to make such references because they do not feel they will offend anyone.
People are comfortable making references to class stereotypes, because they personally do not associate themselves with a certain class. If someone does not commit themselves to one class they have the freedom to make such references because they do not feel they will offend anyone.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Prison
The 30 Days video fascinated me. I watch alot of shows about prison; for example: Locked Up on MSNBC. On this show, cameras are taken into prisons, and prisoners are interviewed about their crimes and view on prison life. However, it was interesting to view prison from he point of view of a respectable member of society. Prisons need to be organized in a different way. Prison's goal should be to cure criminals of their addiction to crime. The way they are currently being run, it seems as if their gaol is merely to keep criminals away from crime for a period of time. George, Morgan's cellmate, put it best; prison takes away so much of a person's freedom that the first thing a person wants to do when they are let out is run wild. Obviously, prison has to put some restrictions on a person's freedom, but not to the point of dehumanizing prisoners. Many prisoners have a separate wing for curing drug addiction. Well crime can be an addiction; therefore all prisons should be set up as a support group; instead of a caging facility. Prisons should have a way to support prisoners when they are released to keep them from resorting back to crime or drugs.
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