Explains class impact on authorityfrom @maisonrickie

Transcript

You view authority could completely flip the outcome of your life. But what if I told you your choice has probably already been made by someone else? In a previous video, I spoke on how parents of different classes model different things to their kids, leading to vastly diverging outcomes as they age. There's a lot that I had to leave out of that example, so today we're gonna go deeper rank explore how parents pass down differing relationships to authority tier their kids. Okay. So scholastic disposition to authority. What's going on here? This is your fundamental orientation towards things like institutional knowledge and power. Specifically, whether you experience authority as something that requires your obedience or invites your participation. The best way to proceed is through an example. So let's use Emma and Marcus again. Two kids growing up in the same neighborhood. If you don't know Emma and Marcus, check out this video on my page after you watch this one. We begin in seven year old Marcus's home at dinner time. Marcus's younger sister Maya doesn't want to eat her vegetables and pushes her plate away saying, I don't like broccoli. I'm not eating it. Mom responds, I don't care if you like it. You need to eat it. It's good for you. Maya then asked, better why do I have to? And before she can finish, her dad says, because your mother told you to. End of discussion. What Marcus learns by watching this is when an authority figure gives an instruction, your job is to comply. But to his parents, they're just teaching their kids to navigate the world they know. Mom works in retail and dad in a warehouse. They don't get to question things. And in their world, respect means obedience. Now in Emma's home, it's dinner time as well. Jack, Emma's younger better, pushes his plate of vegetables away and says, I don't like broccoli. I don't wanna eat it. Mom responds saying, I know, but your body needs vegetables to grow strong. Try three bites. Jack then asks, why three? Why not two? And mom with a slight smile says, fine. Two better, but two actual bites. Emma watches this and learns that her perspective is part of the conversation, and authority figures should be able to justify their decisions. And once again, this is the world her parents navigate daily. Mom is a lawyer. Her day is spent arguing interpretations. Negotiation is her job. Dad is a marketing director, constantly pushing back client demands and advocating for his team. In their world, authority is provisional, and questioning demonstrates engagement. Respect means treating someone as a reasonable person you can have dialogue with. No, fast forward to high school, and the two kids end up in the same AP History class. Marcus makes sure to take detailed notes during the lesson. Whereas Emma questions better Patterson's material respectfully, and is then praised for her critical thinking. Marcus hears this and feels confused. I was paying attention. Why is questioning him better than listening? Both are good students, but Emma treats lectures as conversation she's entitled to join. Whereas Marcus treats lectures as information he's responsible for absorbing. Two very different things. But Emma's disposition is the one that gets rewarded in elite education and later on in professional class jobs. Whereas Marcus's disposition is exactly what is required in most working class jobs and each cycle continues. Now there's still so much more to cover on this topic alone like how both families still speak English better in vastly different ways leading to vastly different outcomes later in life. So if you want that, please like and follow and let me know anything in the comments.