![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Maliciousness in memes: #boganmovies and #tightsarenotpants
I always feel a bit self conscious ranting about class, since the more I think about it the more I realise that for all their left wing ideals my parents are basically middle class bohemians slumming it because they find the rat race too stressful. I never entirely fit in to the working class culture I grew up in, and have few connections to it now. Plus being a "working class" Australian in the suburbs in the 80s was in some ways less difficult than, say, what a lot of ostensibly lower middle class Americans are experiencing now.
Then again, I guess the fact that despite these cushioning effects I've still experienced enough classism to feel pretty angry about it is testament to how totally not class free Australia is.
Anyway, yes. The cheerful way that ostensibly left wing middle class people mock and belittle the working class and people from rural areas is gross. (And I wish this went without saying, but I don't want to see any of it in my comments)
I always feel a bit self conscious ranting about class, since the more I think about it the more I realise that for all their left wing ideals my parents are basically middle class bohemians slumming it because they find the rat race too stressful. I never entirely fit in to the working class culture I grew up in, and have few connections to it now. Plus being a "working class" Australian in the suburbs in the 80s was in some ways less difficult than, say, what a lot of ostensibly lower middle class Americans are experiencing now.
Then again, I guess the fact that despite these cushioning effects I've still experienced enough classism to feel pretty angry about it is testament to how totally not class free Australia is.
Anyway, yes. The cheerful way that ostensibly left wing middle class people mock and belittle the working class and people from rural areas is gross. (And I wish this went without saying, but I don't want to see any of it in my comments)
no subject
That said, I think this sort of situation can combine legitimate criticism with classism etc. You have to ask: why is this unfortunate fashion choice a popular source of ridicule? Why does making fun of it appeal to people so much that it's a popular meme? I mean, I don't know, maybe there are similar memes about clothing which is generally associated with well off people, I guess the hipster mocking kind of does that. But I think it's worth thinking about.
no subject
As you (may?) know, I write a lot about rural issues in the US because it's something that is not well covered or addressed by the 'progressive left.' There are clear intersections between poverty and rural areas and I find the complete writeoff of any place that's not San Francisco, New York, or Los Angeles despicable to a high degree.
no subject
I'm very grateful to several friends of mine from the country who have opened my eyes to the unjustified and toxic attitudes directed towards anyone not from the city. It's certainly not something I'd thought about much before meeting them, despite having a very "progressive" upbringing.
no subject
That said, I think this sort of situation can combine legitimate criticism with classism etc. Yes, I can totally see this. Historically in the UK and North America, enforcing 'public decency' has involved policing the sexuality and dress of poor women, so it's a difficult area.