Know Your Class Assignment
Know your Class assignment (Value: 25%)
Socioeconomic privilege, or class privilege, is complicated. Socioeconomic class is intertwined with gender, racialized status, and other dimensions of social identity For those of us with class privilege over others we want to think that we worked hard and deserved our rewards, that economic benefits are based solely on merit (e.g. “people live on the street because they are lazy; if they got a job and worked hard for a living like me then they would be okay”). However, as we all know, it is a lot more complicated than it seems, and for the most part class privilege begets more privilege and certain groups (especially non-dominant groups) are historically and currently disadvantaged/immobilized by structural factors such as discrimination and racism) that result in socio-economic disadvantage and segregation. So, the more you know about your class privilege or disadvantage, the better you will be at using that awareness for social change.
Write a self-reflexive paper examining the following questions. Take lots of time to think and ponder about these questions throughout the semester, as the best answers come from sitting with difficult questions as long as needed. Use your journal to help if you like and your instructor can give you some early feedback. Feel free to skip any questions that do not pertain to you. Try to integrate as much course material/theory into your answers as possible, but the bulk of the evaluation will be based on your critical self-reflection. Your conclusion should reflect the relevance or implications for your SSW/CYW practice. Be sure to include at least one dimension of the following 5 categories:
a) Class Privilege & Big Decisions
Think about a big decision you have made recently (e.g. like taking the SSW program or re-entering school). Were there ways that having class privilege or not having class privilege factored into that decision?
Has class privilege ever affected the way you have been
Socioeconomic privilege, or class privilege, is complicated. Socioeconomic class is intertwined with gender, racialized status, and other dimensions of social identity For those of us with class privilege over others we want to think that we worked hard and deserved our rewards, that economic benefits are based solely on merit (e.g. “people live on the street because they are lazy; if they got a job and worked hard for a living like me then they would be okay”). However, as we all know, it is a lot more complicated than it seems, and for the most part class privilege begets more privilege and certain groups (especially non-dominant groups) are historically and currently disadvantaged/immobilized by structural factors such as discrimination and racism) that result in socio-economic disadvantage and segregation. So, the more you know about your class privilege or disadvantage, the better you will be at using that awareness for social change.
Write a self-reflexive paper examining the following questions. Take lots of time to think and ponder about these questions throughout the semester, as the best answers come from sitting with difficult questions as long as needed. Use your journal to help if you like and your instructor can give you some early feedback. Feel free to skip any questions that do not pertain to you. Try to integrate as much course material/theory into your answers as possible, but the bulk of the evaluation will be based on your critical self-reflection. Your conclusion should reflect the relevance or implications for your SSW/CYW practice. Be sure to include at least one dimension of the following 5 categories:
a) Class Privilege & Big Decisions
Think about a big decision you have made recently (e.g. like taking the SSW program or re-entering school). Were there ways that having class privilege or not having class privilege factored into that decision?
Has class privilege ever affected the way you have been