Workshop: Classism
Classism
Anti-discrimination and Empowerment
Classism describes discrimination based on social or economic status. The devaluation of long-term unemployed and homeless people, the strong link between class background and educational attainment, as well as stereotyping of poor people in the media, are all examples of classism. There is almost no area of society that is not characterised by classism. Classism is often intertwined with other forms of discrimination, such as racism, sexism, ableism, etc. In my workshops, I always approach classism in its intersection with other forms of discrimination. Classism workshops can be offered as empowerment workshops for those experiencing classism as well as anti-discrimination workshops, which offer the opportunity to critically reflect on classism in your own work context and to develop options for action against classist structures. I provide interactive training and consulting for organisations and individuals that want to explore class, classism and anti-classism in all aspects of their work.
Empowerment Workshops
Empowerment workshops are aimed at people who experience classism. The workshops are intended to create awareness among the participants of the structural dimension of individual experiences. The aim is to develop an awareness of discriminatory situations and find strategies for handling those situations. Theoretical inputs, biographical exercises and various creative methods such as photo voice or theatre exercises will be used to achieve those aims. The workshops are aimed at young people and adults affected by poverty, people in economically precarious circumstances, unemployed people, or first-gen students from working-class families. The aim is to empower participants and bring people with similar experiences together. Empowerment can have a positive impact on various areas of life, such as education, work or family. The workshop can be offered as a one- to two-day individual workshop or as a workshop series.
Anti-classism workshops
Anti-classism workshops are aimed at all people who want to critically reflect on classist structures in their everyday life or work environment to develop counter strategies. The aim is to reflect on privileges, to better understand the mechanisms of discrimination and to develop strategies against classism. The aim of the workshop is to reflect together on discrimination and privilege and to develop ideas for a practice that is critical of classism. Theoretical inputs, biographical exercises and methods from the Social Justice & Diversity approach will be used to achieve those goals. The participants learn how they can work more inclusively in everyday life by taking into account different realities of life and how to prevent discrimination. These workshops are aimed at teachers, lecturers, social workers, educators, consultants, administrative staff, people in the creative industries as well as anyone who wants to reflect critically on classism. It can be designed as a one- or two-day workshop.
anti-classism
'Class involves your behavior, your basic assumptions about life, your experiences (determined by your class) validate those assumptions, how you are taught to behave, what you expect from yourself and from others, your concept of a future, how you think, feel, act' (Brown, 1974).
Source: Brown, Rita Mae (1974): The Last Straw in: Bunch, Charlotte; Myron, Nancy: Class and Feminism. Diana Press.
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