Classism is prejudice or

discrimination on the basis

of social class. It includes
individual attitudes,
behaviors, systems of
policies, and practices that
are set up to benefit
the upper class at the
expense of the lower
class.

The Traverse City Rice and Roses groups

goal is to convince the Traverse City
Human Rights Board that class should be

Classism

included as a protected category, like race,

gender, ability, age, and sexual orientation.
Right now, we are on a mission to find
other communities which addresses
classism and/or socio-economic status in
some form per discrimination laws. As we
continue to research the country for areas
where class is addressed, it becomes
increasingly evident that class is a

We first crush people to

the earth, and then claim
the right of trampling on
them forever, because
they are prostrate.
Lydia Maria Francis

misunderstood and/or a new concept for

many people and communities.
While there are states which address socioeconomic status and income discrimination
in some form, the wording of the policies is
slightly confusing to us, and left us
convinced that classism needs to be
addressed in a deeper, clearer manner, per

Jason M. Aguilera

laws and policies across the country. Many

Gr-10 Einstein

suffering in silence and shame. We did find

individuals affected by classism are still

hope, though. Some communities are
addressing class issues.
Learning more about how their process
occurred and unfolded, while exploring the
conversations the communities had around
their process, is helping us prepare to
make our case to the Traverse City human

cdd