GATSBY Hidden Rules Among Classes

From “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” by Ruby K. Payne

Match the following

What do these levels of society value as POSSESSIONS?

• One-of-a-kind objects, legacies, pedigrees

• Wealth

• People

• Poverty

• Things

• Middle Class

Match the following

What is the purpose of MONEY?

• To be used, spent

• Poverty

• To be managed.

• Wealth

• To be conserved, invested.

• Middle Class

Match the following

What is the function of PERSONALITY?

• Is for entertainment.  Sense of humor is highly valued.

• Wealth

• Is for acquisition and stability.

  Achievement is highly valued

• Poverty

• Is for connections. Financial, political, social connections are highly valued.

• Middle Class

Match the following

What is their SOCIAL EMPHASIS?

• Social inclusion of people they like.

• Poverty

• Emphasis on self-governance and self-sufficiency.

• Wealth

• Emphasis is on social exclusion.

• Middle Class

Match the following

What is the attitude toward FOOD?

• Key question:  Did you like it?  Quality important.

• Middle Class

• Key question:  Was it presented well?  Presentation important.

• Poverty

• Key question:  Did you have enough? Quantity important.

• Wealth

Match the following

What is the attitude toward CLOTHING?

• Clothing valued for individual style and expression of personality.

• Wealth

• Clothing valued for its quality and acceptance into norm of middle class.  Label important.

• Middle Class

• Clothing valued for its artistic sense and expression.  Designer important.

• Poverty

Match the following

What is the attitude toward TIME?

• Present most important.  Decisions made for moment based on feelings or survival.

• Poverty

• Future most important.  Decisions made against future ramifications

• Middle Class

• Traditions and history most important.  Decisions made partially on basis of tradition and decorum.

• Wealth

Match the following

What is the attitude toward EDUCATION?

• Valued and revered as abstract but not as reality

• Middle Class

• Necessary tradition for making and maintaining connections.

• Poverty

• Crucial for climbing success ladder and making money.

• Wealth

Match the following

What is the typical LANGUAGE REGISTER?

• Formal register.  Language is about negotiation.

• Middle Class

• Casual register.  Language is about survival.

• Wealth

• Formal register.  Language is about networking.

• Poverty

Match the following

What is the FAMILY STRUCTURE?

• Tends to be matriarchal

• Poverty

• Depends on who has money

• Middle Class

• Tends to be patriarchal

• Wealth