Definitions
Prejudice against or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class
What is Classism?
This idea suggests that if you work hard enough, you can achieve success regardless of your background
What is Meritocracy?
Welfare recipients are too lazy to get a job
What is a Myth?
Explanation: Two-thirds of Americans receiving social assistance are children who are under Five years old
his is a discriminatory practice, supported by the government, that denies housing and services to people based on race or ethnicity
What is Redlining?
COVID-19 made it harder for lower-income individuals to receive these types of health services
What are Mental Health Services?
Explanation: Lack of reliable internet, access to devices, private space, and affordability necessary to obtain mental health
A way to describe a person's position in society based on their income, education, job, and other factors
What is Socio-Economic Status?
This percentage of Americans own 83% of the country’s wealth
Who are the top 10% of Americans?
Classism is only an individual-level bias, not a systemic issue
What is a Myth?
Explanation: Classism exists both as individual prejudice and systemic inequality embedded in institutions like education, healthcare, and housing
This term is used to describe poor rural white people as “white others,” implying they don’t live up to the expected superiority of whiteness
What is “White Trash”?
Social workers can help lower-income individuals access mental health services by implementing these programs
What is Community Outreach?
Explanation: Community outreach programs can connect people with the necessary resources and support, making mental health care more accessible to underserved populations
This term refers to the total value of a person’s assets (like savings, property, and investments) minus what they owe in debts
What is Net Worth?
Net worth is how much someone owns after subtracting any debts they owe. It’s a measure of their financial health
These are the four types of classism, including both personal and systemic forms of discrimination
What are individual, internalized, institutional, and social/cultural classism?
As unemployment increases so do applications for assistance
What is a Fact?
This is the wage gap where women, on average, earn less than men for doing the same job
What is the Gender Pay Gap?
Many lower-income individuals faced an increased risk of this during COVID-19 due to financial hardships
What is Eviction Risk?
Explanation: Job losses and reduced income made it difficult for many to pay rent, leading to an increased risk of eviction during the pandemic
This group is defined as having enough income to avoid dependence on others but not living extravagantly like the wealthy
What is the Middle Class?
Being middle class isn’t just about income; it’s also about values, behaviors, and living modestly without struggling or showing off wealth
These are the three parts of Socio-Economic Status (SES)
What are income level, educational attainment, and occupational prestige?
Classism has a bigger impact on people who also experience other types of discrimination, like racism or sexism
What is a Fact?
Explanation: When someone faces multiple types of inequality at the same time, like experiencing financial hardships and racism, the challenges they face are even greater
This term refers to social class discrimination along with other factors like race, gender, or disability
What is Intersectional Classism?
Social workers can help address disparities by pushing for more of this for mental health services in underserved communities
What is Advocating for Increased Funding?
Explanation: Social workers play a vital role in advocating for policies that increase funding and improve access to mental health services for lower-income individuals
This term refers to the system where people are ranked in society based on rewards like money, power, and respect, with those at the top receiving more
What is Social Stratification?
Social stratification is a way of ranking people in society, with higher positions earning more economic, political, and social rewards like money, influence, and prestige
This group has the highest percentage of individuals living below the poverty line at 22%
Who are American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people?
Raising the minimum wage reduces poverty without any negative consequences for businesses
What is a myth?
Explanation: Raising the minimum wage helps reduce poverty, but some people worry it might make things harder for small businesses
This is the belief and practice of improving humanity’s genetic makeup by considering certain genetic traits superior. It started in the U.S. in the late 1800s
What are Eugenics?
This was a major contributor to increased financial stress and mental health issues for lower-income individuals during the pandemic
What is Job Loss?
Explanation: Many lower-income individuals faced job loss during COVID-19, increasing financial stress and exacerbating mental health issues