Class History at Bryn Mawr

Your zine brings back good memories of my ESem, In Class, Out-classed, which discussed the effects of socio-economic class on liberal arts education (yay Anne and Jody!). In thinking historically about class at Bryn Mawr, I think it's interesting to compare it to our discussions of class on campus currently, which you did by bringing in Class Dismissed. However, I've also noticed a trend of shame that permeates on campus, not for being of the lower class but instead for being "rich". I've been in multiple conversations that have eventually lead to talk about financial aid. Instead of being ashamed of having to recieve monetary help from the college (as I assume/you've discussed was the case in the past), financial aid has become a sort of status symbol -- the more you've got the more deserving/impressive you are. It would be likely more shameful to admit that you weren't getting any, because that indicates the ability for your family to pay since Bryn Mawr meets all demonstrated need. This concern over money is also connected to working on campus -- a topic I remember touching on in ESem. I have multiple jobs, and most of my friends have none. While it's hard for me to listen to these people complain about having no spending money or complain about workload, I also understand that not everyone NEEDS to work on campus to sustain themselves. However, this doesn't stop me from making assumptions or questioning their reasons. Why don't they work? Do their parents still give them money? While our perception of the discussion on campus is usually centered on our neglect of the lower-class experience, I think in fact what we shy away from is approaching the conversation of higher-class Bryn Mawr students. The shame that many of these students feel is really no different than the shame that many others in the past and present feel regarding their own financial difficulties. 

Dan, this is great! I loved reading through the zine (as well as your web event for Anne). I knew you were artsy before but this was so much fun to look at! It was visually stimulating and it was an easy read. The stats you listed at the end were pretty comforting - I feel like nobody shares what their financial aid package looks like (which is fine) but I'm glad to know that lots of us get financial aid at the college. Although I've heard a little bit about the class history at Bryn Mawr from my E-Sem, it was a good reminder of how important it is that we address a topic like this on our campus. I thought "Class Dismissed" was a great start for a campus conversation - now if only we can keep it going with your zine!

When that student, Anne, wrote letters to her mom about needing money and clothes, it painfully reminded me of the way I dodge the topic of money when I talk to my mom. I never talk to her about my financial situation here at Bryn Mawr. I don't tell her about my school bill and she knows nothing about my financial aid package. I don't tell her about how much money I have in my bank account and I don't plan on talking to her about how I plan to finance my study abroad experience. Why stress her out? I'll figure it out, right? It was just interesting to see and compare the way we talk (or don't talk) to our parents about money.