Quote:
Originally posted by kappaloo
Your example falls apart here when considered by class. Where I grew up, those of us who showed our social class (by not having the best clothes/upkeep or "rich culture" were followed around being suspected of being thiefs solely based on social class. (it's not fun, I wouldn't suggest it). Would someone who is black by is visibly well-to-do be followed around? Perhaps... *ponders* you're right, this isn't as simple....
I guess the difference is - you can always pretend to be a different social class by altering how you act or dress. You can't really pretend to be a different race.
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But, I would be (and am) followed around suspected of being a thief solely based on my race, as can be said for my Southeast Asian, Latino, and Middle Eastern friends. This is regardless of my dress or other superficial ways class can be expressed. I'm a pretty conservative dresser, yet I am hounded in stores because---you guessed it--I am a person of color. You could probably dress the same way and be okay, another aspect of white privilege.
Like I said, it depends on the person. I was raised to dress and speak in a certain way because others would discount my opinions or attitudes because of my color. Regardless of class, were you brought up that way? Probably not.
Plus, I think now mainstream society is used to people, especially middle to upper-middle class white youths dressing or acting in certain ways to "downplay" one's class.