Vida Joyce Fisher

OGL 350

Professor Hirshorn

March 28, 2021

1. I have learned a lot about social class especially as I read more about it. One of the key

takeaways was that social class is determined by a combination of one’s income,

education, and occupation but it is also is determined wealth, power, culture, behavior,

heritage, and prestige. (Newport, 2021). My understanding of social class was very

similar to the Rich or Poor Documentary. Growing up as an Asian American in the

United States, I was raised to by my parents to not put us in a category. Instead, we were

put in the Asian category, the working class, Non-Americans. It was only after I got

married that I learned what a social class was. I had always thought that the division was

rich or poor but that was the extent of what I knew.

After doing the social class exercise, I learned that there were some stark differences

between Justin and Clark’s experiences growing up. With Justin, his mother was

working, and a student at night. This must have been quite challenging for Justin and his

mother to deal with because of the time they didn’t spend together, Justin was on his own

or a family member was the one taking care of him. His childhood consisted of being

passed around from one relative or friend to another. He probably lacked the resources he

needed for school because he was constantly on the move and didn’t have stability. With

Justin’s life growing up, and the experiences he had to deal with because his mother was

the sole provider, Justin saw a role model in his mother. She was working hard as well as

finding time to learn and grow to be able to provide better for Justin. This was admirable

to Justin. I could picture doing the exact same thing his mother did. He worked hard, and

he put an emphasis on his studies because he wanted to make his mother proud. He

wanted her hard work to pay off. On the other hand, Clark’s situation was the very

opposite of Justin’s. Clark had a stay-home mother, who was there in his home while he
 attended his school. He probably grew up with tutors and coaches guiding and helping

him become a better student and athlete. Clark’s mother was focused on Clark’s future by

sending him off to summer camps, and after-school activities to be molded into a future

lawyer like his father. Clark grew up with no role models because his father was always

working because his mother opted to stay home. Clark grew up getting help from a lot of

people to get into the best colleges. He had his future set for him. This was very similar to

the Poor and Rich documentary we watched on Module 3. Growing up with privilege of

wealth, and family background, great things were going to happen for Clark. His future

was bright. Unlike Justin, he had to work for everything that was outside of his class.

Any ambition or dream he may have had, he would have to take extra steps, more than

Clark ever had to.

2. My experience on playing Spent was frustrating yet very realistic. I had no idea what to

do with very little money to live. Yet, I believed for a moment that I would make it. Until

the unexpected things happened, and I had no savings to pay for my dental work nor my

car accident. This scenario on Spent looked and felt similar to what some of my

employees deal with on the daily basis. Many young professionals are living paycheck to

paycheck which means, they have nothing set aside for emergencies. Dental insurance

especially medical insurance, in my opinion, need to be affordable and available for

every individual. As I was doing the scenario on Spent, I received a text message from a

friend overseas in the Philippines. She had shared that the Covid-19 testing and the Covid

vaccine are not free and it is costly to get either one. In the United States, getting tested

for Covid-19, and receiving the Covid vaccine are given with no charge. This clearly
 shows that there is a social division between a rich country like the United States and a

third-world country, like the Philippines.

3. Growing up, I never felt that there was a class I identified with. Being raised by two

working parents, and always being told no when I asked for candy or toy whenever we

would visit a store, I learned that we were not rich. That was clearly defined growing up.

My father’s first job after moving to America was selling athletic shoes. My mother was

a caregiver. I rarely saw my parents because they were always working. Yet, I attended

private school until I reached the tenth grade. My parents believed that having the best

education from the best schools would help me achieve their dreams for me.

This module struck me with a lot of emotions. My husband’s family was from the Lakota Sioux

tribe in South Dakota. Watching and listening the stories of the children in the plains were heart-

wrenching and it was so real for my family. My daughter looked very similar to Louise. I had my

daughter watched the videos because I wanted her to see her distant family from South Dakota.

Those children deserved more than what they were given. The lack of opportunities to thrive, to

learn, to be a child, and enjoy childhood, I couldn’t fathom my own children living like that. I

didn’t realize that their situation in the reservations was far worse than what I imagined it to be.

The ongoing epidemic of alcoholism, drug addiction, hunger, and poverty were so clear in these

reservations. Why hasn’t helped been given? I’m quite torn because I also learned that most of

the members of these tribes choose to stay regardless of their horrible conditions. Just maybe, if

someone shows up, and shows that they genuinely care for them, they just might accept the help.

They need better opportunities and a chance to live a better life. The question is, will it ever

happen? “Understanding where you fall in the American economic class system isn't as simple

as pulling out a calculator or looking at a pay stub”. (Snider, 2020). There are so many factors
that affect where we are in the economic or social class system. However, one thing is crystal

clear, everyone deserves a chance to better opportunities.

 References:

Harvey, C. (2011).  Does Social Class Make a Difference?, Pages 155-157. 

Newport, R. (2021, March 01). What determines how americans perceive their social class?

Retrieved March 28, 2021, from https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-

matters/204497/determines-americans-perceive-social-class.aspx

Where do I fall in the American economic class system? (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2021, from

https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/where-do-i-fall-

in-the-american-economic-class-system