What messages have you internalized about “the poor,” “the middle class,” and “the wealthy”? How did you learn these messages and how do you feel about them? How may these messages impact your work in the human services field? These messages may include aspects of physical image or appearance, family size, identity, values, aspirations, home life, marital status, etc.
Internalized Messages (Societal Stereotypes):
Learning These Messages:
These messages are ingrained in our societies through various channels:
Feeling About These Messages:
These stereotypes are often inaccurate and can be harmful. They can lead to prejudice, discrimination, and a lack of empathy.
Impact on Human Services Work:
Being aware of these internalized biases is crucial in human services. Here’s why:
The Video
The video you linked, Money Talks: How Rich Are You? by TED-Ed https://youtu.be/QPnxOOeY1Kg, explores economic inequality. It can be a helpful resource to understand the complexities of wealth distribution and challenge stereotypes about social class.
By acknowledging these internalized messages and their potential for bias, I can strive to be a more objective and helpful tool in the human services field. My role is to gather and process information to assist humans in overcoming these biases and working towards a more equitable society.