Some Effects of Living in a Class Society
I have identified a set of values, assumptions, behaviours, and chronic patterns that I think are conditioned and installed on us because we live a class society. They can affect everything we say, think, and do. They are generally not seen, questioned, or discharged on because they are what everyone accepts as “normal.” They are a foundation of our institutions and systems. They are reinforced throughout our lives—at home, at school, at work, and beyond. They get in the way of our organizing efforts.
Every class group plays a role in the class system. (For example, middle-class people are set up to act as the enforcers.) Every class can also untangle itself from the role it plays. [See Dan Nickerson’s article, “A New Initiative on Ending Classism,” on pages 8 to 9 of the July 2014 Present Time or at <www.rc.org/publication/present_time/pt176/pt176_008_dn>.]
Tim Jackins (International Reference Person for the Re-evaluation Counseling Communities) has said, “I think we have to look at the effects on us of living in a class society. Living in this society has had gigantic effects on us that we don’t always keep track of. Our whole lives have been lived under a certain set of conditions. The way that we look at everything is conditioned by a set of distresses caused by those conditions. An example is how we relate to each other. Why is it so hard for us to depend on someone else?” [From “To End the Class Society Is in Everyone’s Interest,” on pages 3 to 7 of the July 2014 Present Time and at <www.rc.org/publication/present_time/pt176/pt176_003_tj>.]
The values, assumptions, behaviours, and chronic patterns I’ve identified are as follows. For the first four, I’ve attempted to explain the rational underlying need, describe how it gets twisted by our class system, and share a hopeful perspective.
1. FOLLOW THE RULES
The rational need: Rules can support useful structures, make life predictable, and bring peace and order. They can be written down (like laws, policies, and protocols). Or they can be unspoken, unwritten, and simply understood (like cultural norms). Not following them can bring instability and chaos and pose a danger to people, the system, and society.
How it gets rigid and twisted by the class system: We are expected to follow the rules no matter what, even when they are outdated, inconsistent, stupid, misinterpreted, or unjust. It doesn’t matter what we think. It doesn’t matter what we want. It doesn’t matter if the rules are ethically questionable. We have to do what we’re told. Otherwise, we’ll face harsh consequences. We follow the rules as if our survival depends on it (because it does!).
An RC perspective: We can’t change the system by staying within the rules of the system. We must dare to think “outside the box.” What would it be like to have a society without exploitation and oppression? We can step outside our comfort zone, face our fears, try new things, and reach for people who are different from us. We need not be limited by how we’ve been conditioned to avoid trouble and not make mistakes. We need not be stopped by feelings of hopelessness and despair. Every action we take matters. We have profoundly good minds. Working in unity with others is the way forward. The system can only require the “appearance of conformity.”
2. BE CORRECT AND “DO IT RIGHT”
The rational need: Rational policies are useful. They need to be internalized, and it’s best when they are monitored by peers. They are woven into cultural norms. It’s as if they are in the air that we breathe. A group’s identity is determined by the norms people follow and do not follow.
How it gets rigid and twisted by the class system: “Correctness” can be used to justify the inequitable distribution of wealth, power, and opportunity. It can separate people into those who are “better than” and those who are “less than.” Our institutions and systems legitimize this, distorting people’s perception of themselves and reality. Our current system shifts the responsibility and blame onto the individual (“it’s your fault you have a miserable life”). Also, we are to “look good at all costs.” (Someone described this as “buying stuff you don’t need, with money you don’t have, in order to please people you don’t like.”) Keeping up with the ever-changing trends, constant upgrades, and “modernization” feeds into an unending cycle of consumerism, more exploitation, meaningless work, and environmental degradation.
An RC perspective: We are all peers—no one is any better or worse than anyone else. Each person is born inherently human, with a tremendous array of qualities and gifts. Things go better when each person can be their true self in their complete uniqueness. There are no inherent conflicts among us; there are no human enemies. Each moment is completely unique, and we need to trust our thinking. Human beings have unbounded flexible intelligence. There is enough resource for everyone. How can we think about meeting everyone’s basic needs in the global village without exploitation? “There is always at least one elegant solution for any real problem.” (Harvey Jackins)
3. BE USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE
The rational need: It is rational to be a productive member of society. We can encourage each other to achieve our full potential and be useful.
How it gets rigid and twisted by the class system: Our value and importance as human beings are measured by our usefulness. There’s a big emphasis on hard work, efficiency, and measurable results. Nothing is ever good enough, so we’re in a constant state of anxiety. We avoid being seen as “lazy” and “idle,” characteristics attributed to certain groups. It is good to be “busy” all the time. Our economic system is driven by the need for growth. And we are driven to be more and more “productive.” This comes at a huge cost to our health, our family life, and our happiness. Jobs must be done quickly in the name of “efficiency.” Those who do the most essential frontline work, and the most physically taxing and dangerous work, are the least valued and lowest paid (or simply unpaid). Those who are paid well in our society often do “meaningless work” (“bullshit jobs”).
An RC perspective: Each human is a gift to the universe. We are all intrinsically valuable for who we are. Our occupation or job does not define who we are as human beings. We need meaningful work and challenging intellectual problems. We need to play and explore. We are naturally curious and adventurous. We need time to daydream, let our minds wander, and simply hang out [spend relaxed, unstructured time] with others. This is not a “waste of time.” We need time to cook nutritious food, have regular exercise, engage in creative activities, and get sufficient rest. We need balance to thrive. We are not machines for generating profit. An economic system should serve the people, not the other way around.
4. BE INDEPENDENT, SELF-RELIANT, AND HARDWORKING
The rational need: We naturally become more independent and self-reliant as we develop. This can give us more choices and the freedom to do things our own way. It can be a sign of maturity. It can support being responsible and accountable.
How it gets rigid and twisted by the class system: The class system sets us up to be individualistic, isolated, and competitive. This is heavily reinforced by school and the job market. In an economic system that is cyclical (with bubble-boom-bust cycles), there is an environment of instability, insecurity, and manufactured scarcity that feeds selfish interests and fears about survival. This sets us up to not prioritize our relationships; not want to work with people who have different ideas (inferior or incorrect in our view); not be able to work through disagreement, conflict, and messes; not be able to have deep, committed long-term connections; and not be able to build solidarity. All this has huge implications for our wide-world organizing efforts.
An RC perspective: Human beings are social animals. We are meant to be in caring, cooperative, communicative relationships. Taking individual initiatives and being self-reliant need to be in the context of the larger community. We do better when we can share the work, build on different people’s strengths, and cross-pollinate with other minds. “I am because we are,” as the African proverb goes.
5. BE UPWARDLY MOBILE
We are taught to aspire to join the oppressor (middle and owning) classes, to move upward in the hierarchy. We are trained, forced, or bribed into becoming a part of the oppressive society. This goes against our inherent human nature.
Things would be much different in an economic system not based on exploitation and oppression. Everyone’s basic needs could be met. We would each have a chance to reach our potential and meet a need in society. No group would hoard excessive (or unearned/stolen) wealth. In a society without exploitation, everyone would be part of the working class. Such a new economic system is within reach.
QUESTIONS
What do you think of all this? How have you attempted to “disentangle” yourself from your class role (poor, working class, middle class, or owning class)? What worked, and what did you learn? What might you like to try? Please share your stories.
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of wide world change
(Present Time 205, October 2021)