Week 4: Social Class

An interesting discussion we had in class was about different social classes. Before class we watched a few YouTube videos. One was about this woman named Tammy. She had two teenage boys and lived very humbly. They lived in a small motor home and the mother didn’t even have a working car. She worked at Burger King and had to walk 10 miles to her job. When people asked her why she didn’t just get welfare she explained that that wasn’t her. Sadly her sons didn’t seem to respect her. One, the eldest, shared his opinions and they weren’t always very kind. The eldest son didn’t want other people to see his mom or where he lived. He worked hard to get many awards in school and seemed to think he was better than his family.

Another video I saw was about rich people. They just seemed so artificial and fake to me. They just seemed to want to fit in with everyone else and look good. I thought this was sad. How unfulfilling life must have been for them.

My parents are divorced and therefor I grew up without a lot of money in the home. My mom didn't get things (like cable) that we didn't need and couldn't afford. For the longest time we didn't even have the internet. Also, until my mom moved about a year ago, we had a big tube TV. My mom never paid for me or anyone else in our (including herself) to have a cellphone. I learned to appreciate what I have and not to not feel like I need unnecessary things. I just got married and I’m grateful for the things that I have. I’m glad that I can have this view.

I have a wonderful cousin that I love dearly that was raised in a home that had more money. Her parents paid for her schooling, car, housing, food, etc. I feel like this has made her develop a sense of entitlement. I saw how she didn’t always appreciate what her parents did for her. I remember thinking, “wow, how can she not appreciate that? I would have loved it if my parents did that for me.” She just got married a month after me and I really hope that this sense of ‘entitlement’ won’t make it too difficult for her to adjust to her new life where they can’t afford everything and she no longer will have things handed over to her on a silver platter. (By mentioning this I don’t mean to make my cousin look bad, because she isn't, but merely to point out a difference in class).

When our teacher asked: “Does social class affect a family’s ability to accomplish its purpose? How or why not?” my response was, “you have a choice. You can let your social class define you or you can define it.” I don’t feel defined by my social class. And I know that I don’t have to ever feel that way. We always have a choice. Also, no matter rich or poor, a family can chose what they do. They can chose to make time for each other or not to. They can choose to pursue their goals as a family or not to. A family can accomplish its purpose no matter the circumstances. It is there choice whether or not they do or don’t.