Class is Consciously Unconcious

Ever since my girlfriend surprised me with Margaret Atwood’s latest novel Maddadam, I haven’t been able to put it down. This is the third novel in a trilogy of a post-apocalyptic novels about what happens once a plague decimates the entire world’s population except for the lucky few who made it out alive. Although this piece is not meant to be a review, or  entangle any plot spoilers for those reading, I wanted desperately to point out that a theme of equality has once again come through. This novel has delved deep into what happens when all classes dissolve and society must be built from the ground up with individuals in a semi-decent range of class consciousness. However, this theme is something that is glistening with a reminder–not all classes can get along.

Class consciousness is something often discussed in literature, yet it almost seems to be ignored in everyday life. Feminism is one of those issues. A white, college-educated woman will immediately obtain a higher class upon graduation, no matter the intelligence or assertiveness obtained from that degree. We constantly discuss race, gender, sexual orientation but for some reason class is often left out of the mix.

One is expected while studying at a university to have the means to spend whatever is needed to afford transportation, books, and any other expenses. But what we often forget is that not everyone is here with their parents paying for each day. Some receive grants which save them numerous amounts of stress, but what about those residing in the in-between?

This is a different fight, not everyone can show by walking on the street what exactly encompasses their life story. Are they getting by, scraping by, or skipping meals to make ends meet? Although a university setting is difficult to go by, we must constantly remind ourselves that many are trying to improve their class, but everyone is aware of it as well, and sometimes, it truly is hard to understand sides.