The second time I offered the class, it filled with a culturally diverse mix of students, of various ethnicities and foreign nationalities. Two international students identified themselves as upper class, everyone else as middle-class. In this course, as well as most of my academic work, I attempt to keep in mind, and flesh out, some of the complexities of how class, race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and other cultural components inflect our identities and have real-life consequences, often dire or traumatic for those of us who deviate too far from the prescribed social norm. I perceive myself to be very much out on a limb in my work. I feel very vulnerable, devalued, and stigmatized for my work.
Class remains America's biggest dirty little secret.
The academy has shamefully abjured commitment to class-focused studies and continues to perpetuate the myth of social equality while practicing some of the most ruthless forms of class discrimination among their own. Be sure to include your name and affiliation. Legitimate requests for anonymity will be honored. The Chronicle maintains Colloquy as an open forum where readers can comment on issues. Submissions may be condensed or edited for clarity, but editing is kept to a minimum.