I literally had an “aha” moment while reading a particular paragraph in this Chapter. They are discussing how exposure to middle-class consumption as opposed to somebody who is unfamiliar with social settings in a middle-class environment can find themselves with an advantage in regards to a possible job, or to try and make your way into a particular elite circle. Recognizing that it doesn’t make you less of a person if you are unaware of the social etiquette is key.
I once was offered a really good job. This job would have made me. It was starting pay over $60K. I had many of the requirements needed such as bilingual, speak, read and write Spanish. I needed experience with office administration. I needed sales experience. I qualified for everything except one thing. I went up against a man who “kind of” spoke Spanish but had years and years of experience. He was also about 10-15 years older than me. I was young and still fighting the whole perception is everything. I used to think who cares how I look, as long as I do a good job. Or, who cares what they think of me as long as I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
Then, I was offered an interview but there was one problem. The hire person had come from out of state for whatever reason and could only meet me that night. I was unaware that I was even in the running at that point. Long story short, I had a piercing in my cheek, like a dimple. It was a dermal which means it had a flat back so without the proper tools I could not remove it. I obviously tried and tried to remove it, but to no avail. I met up with the hire person at Starbucks at about 8 P.M. I dressed up in my best office attire, completely professional. The first thing of course I did was try to apologize for the “unprofessionalism” of the piercing, but I couldn’t get it out. Needless to say, I did not get the job. I considered this total inequality. They judged me based on how I looked, and the middle-class, older, less Spanish speaking man got the job.
After that experience I developed knowledge that I didn’t previously have. I experienced a social inequality based on judgements that truly did not define who I am or was or how well I could do that job. I simply didn’t get it because of how I looked. I will argue that middle-class people have more opportunities and are favored in our daily lives.
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