tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440286750138199044.post8610822782611388215..comments2024-02-28T05:38:56.763-08:00Comments on Science Digestive: Chavism: The new prejudiceDean Burnetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15054744507490592341noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440286750138199044.post-34831201116687122862012-04-01T12:42:11.805-07:002012-04-01T12:42:11.805-07:00As you have noted, use of them term 'chav'...As you have noted, use of them term 'chav' may not always be deliberately classist or offensive, but it is always derogatory and damaging, as was Cameron's use of the word 'sick' when referring to underprivileged and dis-empowered areas of society, last year. It proliferates the social exclusion that those in low socioeconomic situations already experience. 'Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright,' (Benjamin Franklin), and even harder when the rest of society are so quick to verbally attack it's poor. <br />It's important to note that people often regard 'chavs' as less intelligent. 'Chavs' are frequently viewed as the 'losers' of our society, somehow deserving of their situation. For anyone who shares these views, you might find studies on the heritability of IQ among varying socioecomonic groups very interesting, as well as the malleability of IQ throughout life, not to mention, of course, the psychologies of prejudice, congitive and confirmation bias.<br />I also agree that these prejudices can form unconsciously when immersed in an environment where they are rife, overt or not. <br />Studies have found that those who live in known deprived areas in this country, are subjected to high levels of discrimination in healthcare and employment; they are judged much more harshly for suboptimal verbal articulation and nutritional choices, which of course, are hardly surprising given the inqualities in economic resources and in education (ever tried to provide a healthy diet for a family, with single parent benefits? There is a reason why low-income families are given free vouchers for vitamins). <br />This discrimination is a shameful example of the pitchfork effect, which simultaneously serves to extinguish any feelings of guilt or responsibility towards those less fortunate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1440286750138199044.post-4827105059680286182012-01-21T07:01:11.700-08:002012-01-21T07:01:11.700-08:00Thanks for writing this. I enjoyed your analysis a...Thanks for writing this. I enjoyed your analysis and agree with pretty much everything you say. I come from a similar background and went to a similar school, so that might be part of it. But I've been wondering for a while why this stuff was acceptable.Ms Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01253929437848941761noreply@blogger.com