Diversity Thursday: Classism

What is classism?

‘Social background influences which opportunities and chances, but also which restrictions and difficulties, make our lives easier or more difficult. Different lifestyles are valorised or devalued very differently in our society. This is called classism - discrimination based on social background.’

Source: Amadeu Antonio Stiftung

‘[Classism] describes the marginalisation, disadvantage and discrimination of [ascribed] class origin or class affiliation. This means that wherever people are disadvantaged and oppressed because of their social status, we speak of classism. Classism is often mentioned together with other forms of discrimination such as racism or queer hostility.’ Alongside racism and sexism, classism is one of the central structures of inequality and mechanisms of oppression.

Source: Informations- und Dokumentationszentrum für Antirassismusarbeit, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

How does social origin or social status determine our lives?

The circumstances in which we grow up have a decisive influence on our lives.

‘What kind of environment we grow up in: whether in a home, a flat, a tower block or a villa, which and how many languages we speak, what professions our parents have and how much money we have at our disposal - all of this together is called social background.’ (Source: Amadeu Antonio Stiftung)

Social background influences the following conditions in particular:

• material conditions (e.g. money, property)
• educational opportunities
• individual support

Source: Amadeu Antonio Stiftung

How does discrimination based on social background manifest itself?

‘Anyone who doesn't want to worry about social background and says that it makes no difference in Germany is closing their eyes to this discrimination. Devaluation based on social background excludes people from resources, demeans them and hinders the social participation of poor and low-income groups.’

Source: Antonio Amadeu Stiftung

Discrimination can be seen in examples such as

• Belittling people who do not have certain status symbols (e.g. branded clothing)
• Exclusion and belittling of other people as ‘antisocial’
• Judging and belittling people who are poor, homeless or unemployed, for example
• Judgement of people based on their level of education (e.g. secondary school certificate vs. university degree)

Source: Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, Amadeu Antonio Stiftung

What are the consequences of classism?

People affected by classism are often stereotyped because of their profession, level of education, housing situation, hobbies or language. They only have limited opportunities to move up from their original social class, as they lack important prerequisites such as education and support. This considerably restricts their chances of participating in society. This situation also has a negative impact on their physical health and life expectancy, as they may not have access to a healthy diet, sports facilities or medical care, or may engage in activities that are detrimental to their health. They do not receive enough information about what is healthy or what helps to break out of these structures. A study by the RKI also shows that people from certain social classes are more likely to suffer from mental illness, as they struggle with problems such as hopelessness, fear of the future and financial worries.

Source: Informations- und Dokumentationszentrum für Antirassismusarbeit

Classism and education

In the context of the global PISA studies, it has often been discussed that educational institutions in Germany do not provide sufficient support for children from disadvantaged families. According to the first PISA study, the German education system is based on a principle of selection that does not, however, support talent-orientated education. In contrast, school selection reinforces social position, which is itself a reason for selection. The first decisive step of selection, which influences the further educational career, takes place in primary school at the latest. This creates a cycle for disadvantaged groups: the social position determines the level of education, while the level of education also reinforces the social position. Classism also plays a central role when entering higher education: people from non-academic families are often systematically disadvantaged compared to those from academic families due to their social background and socio-economic position in society, particularly in terms of financial, informational, mental and skills-related resources.

Source: Schule ohne Rassismus, El-Mafaalani

What can I do against classism?

Follow the motto: recognise class, act class.

• Biography work: Recognise classism and social injustice - also in yourself.
• Sensitisation: Try to understand terms from the discourse on classism.
• Power sharing: Share your own power and privileges if possible. Use them for others who do not have them.
• Civil courage: Stand up for a society based on solidarity and equal opportunities.

Source: Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung

Further information (in German):

• Klassismus: Diskriminierung aufgrund sozialer Herkunft - Was ist das? – Amadeu Antonio Stiftung
• Klassismus – Vielfalt Mediathek - Informations- und Dokumentationszentrum für Antirassismusarbeit
• Diskriminierung aufgrund sozialer Herkunft – Amadeu Antonio Stiftung
• Klassismus – Eine Bestandsaufnahme – Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung
• Klassismus: Klasse erkennen, klasse handeln – Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband
• Tipps für Bildungsgerechtigkeit – Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung
• Klassismus: Das Spiel zur sozialen Ungleichheit | extra 3 | NDR
• Diskriminierung aufgrund sozialer Herkunft – Amadeu Antonio Stiftung
• Klassismus: Die verachtete Unterschicht – Deutschlandfunk Kultur
• Klassismus - Der abschätzige Blick auf die „Unterschicht“ – Deutschlandfunk Kultur
• Klassismus und Rassismus - Dimensionen einer vielschichtigen Intersektion - Informations- und Dokumentationszentrum für Antirassismusarbeit
• Klassismus – Schule ohne Rassismus
• Mythos Bildung – Die ungerechte Gesellschaft, ihr Bildungssystem und seine Zukunft – Aladin El-Mafaalani (in the library collection)
• Vom Arbeiterkind zum Akademiker – Aladin El-Mafaani (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung)