Writing the Self Analysis: Looking for Normative Narratives

i) Normative Narratives

In the blog posts I have selected in addition to my own, being Amberlee and Jenna's posts, there are very similar stories on the realization of socioeconomic status. All three of us reflected on an experience of ours that involved homeless people, in which we all recognized our own placement in the hierarchy of socioeconomic status at the same time. Both Jenna and Amberlee express their feelings at the time as cautious and saddened, neither of them failing to mention the shock/ hurt that is inevitably present when one understands their own privileges. The two self-stories make a noticeable note on the living conditions of homeless individual(s) that they had encountered themselves, just as I had done for my story’s focus as well. All of our stories support that the understanding of homeless living conditions, saddened feelings surrounding the topic, and the idea of socioeconomic status being greater for others overall is proven to be a central thought without a straight forward acknowledgment of this.

Knowing what is similar about our experiences, I find that I strongly related to the feelings expressed in each of the girls’ recollections as initial concern and shock resonates through all of our stories. After reading both Amberlee and Jenna’s stories, I found that each of their thoughts tied together to fully connect to my own quite well. Jenna expresses: “This concept saddened me as a child… I started realizing all the things that I took for granted that many people don’t have. I wanted to do everything I could to help the man but there’s only so much you can do”, and her desire to help the person in need made me think of my own concerns for the man that I came across years ago. On the other hand, Amberlee expressed her concerns of being on the streets of Paris, her uneasy and cautious attitude just as my own as she says “We aren’t even 2 minutes down the alley when I begin to feel uncomfortable…the overwhelming sense of fear overrules. We begin to pick up the pace and walk a bit faster it is obvious the other girls are also feeling anxious.” When homelessness is thought of, it is generally viewed in desolation because of how unfortunate such a living situation can be for some people, while it is just as confusing to think of how this can possibly happen to someone. The idea that there is nothing I can do, as Jenna had mentioned, resonates with me in a way that leaves me feeling disappointed in myself and others around me. This being said, I know that there are ways to help those in need, it is the wish to be able to fully change someone’s life to have better living conditions that lingers in my mind with this concept. I believe that this thought is reoccurring for me, especially now, because I know that others feel the same way as I do about socioeconomic status in connection to homeless individuals as it is an example that I would think many people have experienced themselves whether or not they realized that there was connection to their socioeconomic status in that moment.

The three stories, which I must note all come from the perspective of a young white girl, do not coincide with the lifestyles that we have all been brought up in. However, one cannot know the upbringing of an individual that is brought to be homeless at some point in their life either. As none of us have been homeless in our lives, I believe that our experiences have been recalled from a time in our lives that has made us uncomfortable and challenged our understandings of what we really are fortunate to have. I have never been with a person that has not felt the same way about homeless people as I do, and I feel as though it is not as likely that I will come across an individual who understands the difficulties of this rather than to only feel sympathy before moving along with life. Our stories have proven to reproduce the idea that socioeconomic status creates a drift within people in which those that are given the upper hand in status do not feel as though they can do anything, and only have sorrow for those that live in conditions other than their own. Socioeconomic status creates this problem as many do not know of the number of ways that it is apparent, because it is made to be normal. Specifically, the stories chosen reflect the impression that it is normal for one to feel affected in a way that does not seem to really have affect to you yourself, or the lifestyle that you continue to remain in.

ii) Creating Counter-Stories: Disrupting Normative Narratives

Sierra’s blog, being quite different from that of mine, Amberlee’s, and Jenna’s, counter-argues the scenario of classism decided by money, although not to the point of being homeless due to this, in a way that takes the pressure off of how classism is viewed. Although there is no encounter between two individuals that portrays one as lesser than the other, there is struggle with wealth. Sierra’s self-story goes against the ways in which it is believed that status determines what you are able to do in life. As stated by Sensoy and DiAngelo, “From very early on in school we are taught that anyone can make it if they try… and that we live in a classless society” (2017, pp 167). Society is taught to see the good in every situation, and to stay positive through the toughest of situations, just as Sierra does.

Because people are taught not to see things that divide us so well: white privilege, classism advantages, racism, etc., stories of positivity and growth are often used to silence others that reflect on these controversial topics that continue to be undealt with. As these stories that can mask the real issues in our world, it can be possible for these to be true. How might these differing stories be true, or certain stories be able to disrupt our socioeconomic status narrative? Well, this may not be the easiest way for things to happen, but many cases can be turned around to break the idea of status. Class, as shown by Sierra, does not have to get into the way of opportunities in life for people that may be viewed as ‘ineligible’ so to say. As she was fortunate to live the life that a number of students do not get to, the idea that would sound so good to others is viewed in the way that homeless people were within our stories. Speaking on rude comments she overheard, Sierra says, “I get a pit in my stomach, I feel sick. Although I should be wearing my uniform with pride, it is almost if I feel ashamed of where I go to school. I wish that I could tell everyone how I am able to go to a private school and that I don’t live in a mansion of any sort but instead, far from.” Her story silences the concept of classism by going opposite the idea that wealth is graded over all others and continues to support the optimistic aspect in which we see more than not.

Taking another counter-argumentative perspective of socioeconomic status into consideration could help me to view my own story in a new perspective that would enlighten my ability to understand where these issues come from and how people can receive help in any which way, rather than to see it as negatively portrayed. Sensoy and DiAngelo state, “thinking about class requires that we consider together issues of income and issues of power…Discourses of classism present upper-class people as naturally smarter and more articulate than lower-class people” (2017, pp 160). To consider how all aspects of life can predict and change ones socioeconomic status is one of many ways that I will continue on in my understandings and further teachings on normative narratives, with intentions to further discover what a counter argument on such a widely prevalent topic can mean for myself and others in society. As said by Ruby Dee, “Classism and greed are making insignificant all other kinds of isms.”

Cited:

Sensoy, Ö, & DiAngelo, R.J. (2017). Is everyone really equal?: An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.