In "Moving Up: The Challenges of
Communicating a New Social Class Identity", we are introduced to two
people, Jim and Marc. Jim is currently a new lawyer at a prestigious law firm,
but hails from a working class background; he is "the only big shot his
family's got" according to his uncle. Because of his background, Jim has
developed working class ideals; he prefers practicality over price, only
spending what he needs to, and has always considered himself among working
class folk.
"The challenges of communicating a new
social class identity" arise when Jim meets with the firm's head lawyer
(Marc) on a Monday for his sixty-day performance review. Marc informs Jim that
his ability to perform tasks as a lawyer is exceptional, but that his image as
a lawyer needs some significant improvement, as it does not reflect the firm’s
prestige, but a working class background. Marc doesn’t want to see cheap suits,
watches, cars, or Jim not going out to lunch with other lawyers, but the
opposite. Jim leaves the meeting taken aback, but understanding and willing to
make some changes toward his image.
Throughout
the rest of the week Jim is consumed with satisfying Marc’s demands for a new
image, even putting his work for the firm aside to meet them. He complies by
buying more expensive attire, going out to Sushi bars with his co-workers, and
even questioning his old Chevy…maybe a Benz? By Friday Jim is excited about the
changes he has put forth the effort in making, when Marc suddenly demands Jim
to no longer assist or establish rapport with secretaries at the firm, or
anyone else who Marc considers “little people” (people of the working class
background). Unlike Marc’s previous requests for image change, this does not
suit well with Jim.
The
case concludes with this: “How could he prove to his boss that he is cut out to
be an attorney? And how could he reassure his parents that he is the same old
Jimmy?”
Until
Friday I, like Jim, understood Marc’s requests for change. No matter what
context, the saying “image is everything” holds true. It is unsuitable to
appear at a high status law firm as a lawyer in JC Penny boxed suits, just as
it would be unsuitable to show up for work at an assembly line in an expensive
suit. I agree with Marc that Jim must reevaluate the way he dresses, talks in
certain situations, and possibly even the car he drives, for both the benefit
of the firm, and for his own benefit…when he is no longer “new” and dealing
with even more prestigious clients, which lawyer will these clients desire, the
one pullin’ up to work in a Porsche, or the one pullin’ up to work in a Pinto?
And although Jim seemed surprised to hear Marc’s suggestions on Monday, I’m
sure there had to have been some point throughout his law schooling when he
realized his working class identity would be addressed at some future point.
I
was very impressed with Jim’s willingness to make a few changes toward his
identity as a lawyer for two reasons, the first being his lack of resistance to
change. Jim seems to embrace the idea of something different as he thinks to
himself “If this is what is needed to be successful, then maybe I could try
dressing a little differently…a couple new suits might actually be a good
thing.” Second, by making most of the changes Marc asks of him, Jim
strategically puts Marc in a position where if he continues to ask Jim to
reshape his image, he might appear too demanding, which could hurt Marc’s image.
It is Jim’s ease in “trying something new” that will give him advantage later
on, whether it be at the law firm or not.
The
day when Marc does become too demanding suddenly arrives for Jim; in the same
week Marc laid out his initial requests. On Friday, Marc suddenly calls Jim
into his office and orders him not to help or assist the working class (that is
the secretaries, custodial staff, etc.) in the building, for they are simply
“little people” in the law office, not a part of the firm. This creates an
immediate internal conflict with Jim, as he believes Marc is now going too
far…after all, Jim entire family is “little people”.
While
I didn’t mind Marc’s initial requests for Jim, I completely understand Jim’s
hesitance to begin viewing other people in the office as “lower” than him…is it
even possible for Jim to suddenly “begin” viewing people as something he
previously did not? However because Marc is his boss and wants Jim to do this,
Houston we have a conflict. So how can Jim solve it?
My
suggestions for Jim are simple, at least in words. If I were him I would
schedule a meeting with Marc, and first praise him for acknowledging that I
needed to make a few image changes as a lawyer, that the changes turned out to
be good for me, despite the fact they consumed my entire week (and I’m now
behind on work). After hearing him congratulate himself, I would then begin
telling him about how I came to be a lawyer, about my family, perhaps the
determination my working class mother instilled in me throughout my life, and
that if it wasn’t for the lessons I learned from working class folks I wouldn’t
be sitting in a prestigious law firm. My objective here would be to develop
within Marc a liking, a respect for my mother, and ultimately a respect for
working class people. It would be my hope that because I was so open to his
suggestions, Marc would be open to my suggestions, open to my refusal to ignore
secretaries and custodians, to not recognize them as people.
Marc’s
reaction to this of course will determine Jim’s next step at the firm. If Marc
is in fact receptive, understanding, and willing to make a change of his own,
then Jim might just get along great. However if Marc could care less what Jim’s
mother instilled in him, Jim should probably reconsider working for a “high
status law firm”, or at least this one. With Jim’s exceptional law school
record, bank of knowledge, and writing ability he is sure to find lawyer work
elsewhere. And even if he doesn’t, his dad has a position ready for him “down
at the garage”.
