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Dimensions of Diversity

What is Class?

Definition from the Open Education Sociology Dictionary:

  • n.  An individual’s or group’s position within the social hierarchy, typically based on power, prestige, and wealth.

Definition from the American Psychological Association:

  • n. A group, category, or division. See categorization
  • n. In sociology and political theory, see social class.
  • n. In biological taxonomy, a main subdivision of phylum, consisting of a group of similar, related orders.
  • n. In logic and philosophy, a collection of entities that have a specified property or properties in common: that is, a set defined by a condition.

Why do social workers need to understand class-related issues?

Social class influences many aspects of a person's life, including opportunities for social mobility, health outcomes, and access to services. Social workers recognize that class disparities often contribute to systemic inequalities and can also impact one's mental health, social relationships, and overall well-being. Social workers advocate for social justice by challenging class-based inequalities and promoting policies and interventions that reduce poverty, increase access to resources, and support upward mobility for individuals and communities.

Readings on Class

Additional Resources

Videos on Class

left behind american a documentary

Left Behind America

In the decade since the Great Recession, many American cities and towns have bounced back. But for some small and mid-size cities that were once hubs for innovation and manufacturing, economic recovery has remained elusive. FRONTLINE and ProPublica ask why....

Rural Matters a documentary on poverty

Rural Matters: Poverty in the Other America

A documentary film examining poverty, the dignity of low-income Americans, and its impact on working people living on the edge of economic insecurity in rural America.

In Sickness and in Wealth a documentary

Unnatural Causes: In Sickness and in Wealth

In Sickness and in Wealth is 1 of a 4 part series, Unnatural Causes, that "sounds the alarm about our huge and disturbing socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in health."  What are the connections between healthy bodies, healthy bank accounts and skin color?

Organizations addressing Class

 

Days of Awareness