Perceptions of Low‐Status Workers and the Maintenance of the Social Class Status Quo

Abstract

In this moment of increasing social inequalities after the Great Recession

Classism and dehumanization in chronic pain: A qualitative study of nurses’ inferences about women of different socio‐economic status

“…She is also seen as performing non-specific tasks (shopping, house chores) that do not require creativity or cognition, thus equated to animal laborans (Arendt, 1958: Volpato et al, 2017 and fitting a typical description of L-SES people (Kraus & Keltner, 2009). She is also seen as performing non-specific tasks (shopping, house chores) that do not require creativity or cognition, thus equated to animal laborans (Arendt, 1958: Volpato et al, 2017 and fitting a typical description of L-SES people (Kraus & Keltner, 2009).…”

“…For example, people/groups of low SES are systematically subjected to animalistic dehumanization in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia (Loughnan et al, 2014), predominantly by denying them intelligence/competence (Lott & Saxon, 2002;Varnum, 2013) and selfcontrol (see Durante et al, 2013 for comparisons of societies in different continents; Joffe & Staerkl e, 2007;Volpato et al, 2017), and are targets of more indifference and blame (Waytz & Schroeder, 2014). For example, people/groups of low SES are systematically subjected to animalistic dehumanization in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia (Loughnan et al, 2014), predominantly by denying them intelligence/competence (Lott & Saxon, 2002;Varnum, 2013) and selfcontrol (see Durante et al, 2013 for comparisons of societies in different continents; Joffe & Staerkl e, 2007;Volpato et al, 2017), and are targets of more indifference and blame (Waytz & Schroeder, 2014).…”

“…For example, people/groups of low SES are systematically subjected to animalistic dehumanization in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia (Loughnan et al, 2014), predominantly by denying them intelligence/competence (Lott & Saxon, 2002;Varnum, 2013) and selfcontrol (see Durante et al, 2013 for comparisons of societies in different continents; Joffe & Staerkl e, 2007;Volpato et al, 2017), and are targets of more indifference and blame (Waytz & Schroeder, 2014). These patterns also seem to have historical stability (Volpato et al, 2017): People holding jobs that do not require specific skills (i.e., the animal laborans; Arendt, 1958: Volpato et al, 2017 have historically been dehumanized through denial of competence (Volpato et al, 2017). These patterns also seem to have historical stability (Volpato et al, 2017): People holding jobs that do not require specific skills (i.e., the animal laborans; Arendt, 1958: Volpato et al, 2017 have historically been dehumanized through denial of competence (Volpato et al, 2017).…”

“…People/groups of higher SES are described as competent (e.g., intelligent) and healthy (Durante, Tablante, & Fiske, 2017;Varnum, 2013). In turn, people with specific professional skills have been seen as expressing their humanness through work (the homo faber; Arendt, 1958: Volpato et al, 2017 and ascribed creative thinking (Volpato et al, 2017). In turn, people with specific professional skills have been seen as expressing their humanness through work (the homo faber; Arendt, 1958: Volpato et al, 2017 and ascribed creative thinking (Volpato et al, 2017).…”

How social-class stereotypes maintain inequality

“…Cross-nationally, poor people are perceived as incompetent (even more so in unequal societies) [5, but see also 7], and judged as animal-like in the UK, US, and Australia [8*]. Low-status (e.g., blue-collar or working-class) workers share a similar stereotype: They are cross-nationally perceived as incompetent (but sometimes warm, depending on the country; see [9]), and they are dehumanized (either as animals or interchangeable objects) [10]. …”