Represents a specific
oppression where the rules,
values,
mores, and ideals of one
class are imposed upon another, within the hierarchy of class values.
Within feminism, it filters through from middle class to working class women, denying them a language, banning them from self-expression, labeling them ignorant, stupid, coarse, bombastic, rough, unducated, ineffectual.
Within feminism, a movement that is supposed to be dedicated to social change, classism is particuarily dangerous. Because the first movers and shakers of the feminist community were mostly upper and middle upper class women, the movement became more centered around the needs and voices of somewhat wealthy, white women. This excluded the voices of many other women. Classism within feminism entered into the discussion pretty late in the game, but the advent of Socialist/Marxist feminism greatly assisted in the discussion still being a discussion.