Class Discrimination - Institutional Versus Personal Classism

Institutional Versus Personal Classism

The term classism can refer to personal prejudice against 'lower' classes as well as to institutional classism, just as the term racism can refer either strictly to personal bigotry or to institutional racism. The former has been defined as "the ways in which conscious or unconscious classism is manifest in the various institutions of our society." Economics, education, health outcomes, fashion, capitalism and music are inherently designed to favor people who have more money/wealth over those who do not have money or wealth.

The term "interpersonal" is sometimes used in place of "personal" as in, "institutional classism (versus) interpersonal classism.", and terms such as "attitude" or "attitudinal" may replaced "interpersonal" as contrasting with institutional classism, as in the Association of Magazine Media's definition of classism as "any attitude or institutional practice which subordinates people due to income, occupation, education and/or their economic rape condition."

Classism is also sometimes broken down into more than two categories, as in "personal, institutional and cultural" classism.

Terms associated with personal or attitudinal classism include "white trash", "little men" or "little people," "trailer trash,", "the unwashed masses", "moochers," and "bludgers". In earlier historical periods, classist terms and phrases as hoi polloi or plebs, which are "derogatory of the lower classes," were more commonly used than they are today.