I attend a school zoned in one of the most expensive zip codes in Miami, a city with one of the highest costs of living in the United States. It’s easy to assume that everyone that attends this school is loaded. Yachts, million-dollar homes, the latest in technology and fashion, that’s what you’d expect, right? I did too when I enrolled, and yeah, at a glance, that’s how it seems. I’ll admit I felt a little out of place before starting my first day at that school.
I remember begging my dad for an iPhone to avoid the ridicule I thought I would receive from my more affluent peers. I remember hiding behind nice clothes purchased in the clearance section, and for a few months, I was scared of bringing friends over because my house wasn’t the two-story, dream house with a pool in tow. The best part is, my family is relatively well-off. We have food on the table, we take vacations almost every year, we go out to eat; I should not have felt ashamed. Except, I felt like all my peers had more so I should too. I was surprised to find out that I wasn’t the only one hiding.
Whether you like it or not, class differences shape the way we perceive the world; they shape the interactions we have with people and who we interact with. That’s why many people from lower income households who have to interact with more affluent people try to hide how much money they have in the way they dress or speak. At the same time, people with more money will often hide how rich they really are to seem ‘normal’ or hide their privilege. The truth always comes out though, and usually in the form of marxist slips.
They present themselves in our everyday conversations, when someone says something like, “don’t worry, it’s only like, $10,” you’re making a passing comment that exposes the fact that you can afford to lose those ten dollars. That you’re privileged enough to see that figure and think it’s expendable. There are plenty of people who cannot afford to spend $10 on just anything. To many people, that money is a great sacrifice. For some, $10 on a shirt is a bargain, for many others, those $10 would be better spend on a meal, or transportation for the week.
When one makes a marxist slip, they fail to consider the economic situation of the other party. It is socio-centric and may not directly cause harm others, but does exhibit a lack of understanding for those outside of your social class. I’m not saying everyone should hide their economic situations. I’m saying the economic situations of others should be considered and respected so that nobody feels like they have to hide.
