Reading Classes: On Culture and Classism in America

by Barbara Jensen

Among those long on ambition but shorter on cultural capital, styles are conservative and described with words like tasteful, clean, and, especially, appropriate. Values about behavior match style factors: as colors are muted, so are voices, opinions, amusement, and anger, in favor of a friendly reserve. This classism harshly judges people who “put on a show” or have a “big mouth,” people who come off “too strong” in style, opinions, food, or behavior. While these values may well serve those aspiring to power and fortune in America, many working class cultures put a premium on colorfulness, taking up space, and bein’ real, rather than on reserve and diplomacy. Classism sees and judges louder, more expressive and emotional human behavior as flaws of personal character, which is called tasteless rather than customs of class or ethnic cultures.