Status is generally and subjectively defined by family background, education, occupation, social network, income and sometimes residence … The category that is always preeminent is income, no matter the others, that in our judgment determines acceptability and inclusion.
For example, a friend told me that she was previously active in a local organization in several volunteer positions but is no more. Her suggestions to write thank you notes to donors, to amend policies for group dinners to allow more to participate, to help with garden projects, to volunteer for other activities, generated no response whatsoever to the extent that she feels like a social pariah, even more so because of often being boldly bombarded by some with far too personal statistics on the value of their personal possessions, as if she wants to or needs to know.
She clearly qualifies on almost all status levels, but due to some adverse losses which occurred several years after she joined this organization, she knows that high income, and thus residence, is not one of them … If that’s what really matters, so be it. It’s best to make other choices and volunteer where the factors that are truly important matter. There is far too much “elitism” to go around in this country and Durango, alas, is not immune.
We don’t have to let arbitrary judgments, meaningless standards and false pride rule our lives and actions, to challenge our egos or to feel inferior to anyone on any level and should choose our options accordingly.
Anne Reynolds
Durango
