Classless: Classism in Social Work Practice and the Example of White Rural Proverty

ABSTRACT This paper seeks to explore and depict the implicit force of classism impacting social work practice and discourse using the example of white rural poverty. The demographics and the specific psychosocial needs of this population will be explored. Cultural attitudes toward the white rural poor will also be examined, as well as the origin of the negative and pejorative sentiments that exist toward this population. Social work’s participation in perpetuating these negative biases and stereotypes will be addressed, both currently and historically. The historic examples illustrated herein are social works’ participation in the national eugenics movement and the efforts to eradicate hookworm in the early 20th century. These historic examples will be used as the backdrop to the examination of classist beliefs. By using boundary theory and the concept of implicit biases, this paper seeks to demonstrate the creation of belonging or not-belonging based on class standing. Using composite case material from this writer’s own experience as a clinician working in primarily impoverished rural enclaves, this paper will highlight the risk of practicing clinically without acknowledging the implicit class bias at play in a cross-class dyad.