Class consciousness means that we are aware where we stand in the socioeconomic ladder.
We should never feel guilt or shame of belonging to an “inferior” class, but that’s what happens in many circumstances. We are responsible for the decisions we make but we don’t make decisions in a social vacuum.
The belief that we make decisions based on freewill is a myth, we don’t decide freely, the decision making process is mainly subconscious bringing to the table variables that won’t be known consciously, which have to do with life experience, character and personality traits and whatever makes each one of us unique.
The societal order demands compliance but doesn’t respect individual differences, rewards compliance and punishes defiance which means that nonconformists always have problems because they tend to confront authority.
The more we see reality through the lens of class consciousness the better we understand the myths of meritocracy, privilege and entitlement. Hard work has to be meaningful work, what I mean is that we need to produce goods and provide services that fulfill real needs, innovation and economic viability are not synonym of usefulness much less sustainability, and environmental policies need to go along with economic and social policies for fairness and effectiveness.
Most social interactions incorporate traits of class prejudice even among family members and friends, it should not be a surprise how privilege, entitlement and class superiority is so prevalent, we need to ask ourselves why do we comply instead of defy it?
We are conditioned by variables beyond our control, much of the information to which we are exposed by obligation (school, job) or any other reason involves perception management, we need to be aware that there is nothing natural about the socio-cultural environments where we live, human societies are artificial creations and there is no other way for us to understand reality but through narratives that are tailored to shape the way we perceive it.
Class consciousness has to cultivated like any other subject, everything requires learning and training, if the choice is not conscious we will end up being caught in ideological and cultural traps by default.
The diversity of traps appealing to individual ethical and aesthetic taste and other particular traits are actually designed to shield the established order while giving the illusion of choice and contribute to social pacification.
What really matters is usually way from the spotlight and is often difficult to swallow, and rarely brings recognition but attracts those who need to dig deeper and understand better.
The point is, we need to analyze critically the information we are exposed to, there is always agendas behind every piece of information mostly to manufacturing consent and the main reason why so many people back individuals, organizations, political parties and absurd ideas which go against their best interests it’s because propaganda works.
