In class we learned about social class and how many families are mislabeled. Growing in a moderately wealthy neighborhood, I've to some point understood that my family was a bit wealthier than other families across America. I knew we weren't "rich" but I was also fully aware that we weren't "poor". We're middle class. When I went to work on Wednesday I had to sub in at a neighboring theater, Rivertree, in Vernon Hills. Everyone who has been to that theater is aware that it is gross and smelly. This was a major turn off for me when I went in for work hesitantly and in an uninterested manner. Once I got there, there was a regular staff member working concessions. He looked at me and asked me if I was in high school. When I told him I go to Stevenson he immediately asked me if I "was rich". At first, I was taken aback from the question. I was thinking to myself "who asks someone that kind of a question". Then I thought of the movie that we watched in class If I said yes I'm rich, he would think I was some upper-class snob, which I'm not, and if I said I was poor then he would think I'm lower class and poor, which I'm also not. I ended up saying I don't know what I am, which was kind of awkward. He then asked me what kind of cars I drive. It was very strange. I felt like he had this inferiority complex because he is from Mundelein and I'm from Linconlshire. It was really strange. Then when I made a comment about how gross the theater was, he looked at me and said, oh it's because you're too good for this right? It was so AWKWARD. He didn't know me and he was passing this judgement on me.
So awkward.
What an interesting experience! I'd love a little more sociological insight. I wonder what school that guy went to? What were you each wearing? Was there any other status symbols? I wonder why you didn't just say middle class - that's what everyone in America says.
ReplyDeleteWow, I agree with Sofia what an experience! Haha! That's shocking that someone would come upto you and say that, but I get the "Oh you go to Stevenson, you must be rich" deal every time I'm asked what school I go to!
ReplyDeleteAt my job, we all have uniforms, a black t-shirt, black pants, and black shoes. He had no assumptions of me when I first walked in. He started up when I told him where I went to school.
ReplyDeleteMost of the kids who work at this theater are kids from Mundelein High School. Many of these kids have stated their dislike for Stevenson and its students primarily because of their assumed class.
I didn't want to tell him what class I am, it being upper middle class, because I was curious about what his response would be. I've already experienced responses to when I have revealed my class. The reactions were "oh so you're a prep" and "what else are your parents going to buy you? Another car?". I wanted to know what kind of things he would say if I left my class a mystery.
It seemed as though he figured I was of a lower class because I didn't hurry to say upper middle class. He made comments of rich snoby kids shopping on their parents money all while going to Stevenson. I felt like he wouldn't have necessarily have said like that had I initially told him what my class was.