“Lenin’s famous definition of class: Classes are large groups of people differing from each other by the place they occupy in a historically determined system of social production, by their relation (in most cases fixed and formulated in law) to the means of production, by their role in the social organization of labour, and, consequently, by the dimensions of the share of social wealth of which they dispose and the mode of acquiring it (Monthly Review)”. This definition of class highly relates to social class that is created by one’s level of wealth. And because there are different levels of classes, there ends up being a level of discrimination that happens between lower and higher classes. Continuing on, “class inequality manifests itself in wealth, income, and occupation, but also in education, consumption, and health—and each of these are among the means by which class advantages/disadvantages are transmitted (Monthly Review)”, this observation is very accurate to the real world and how there is a level of discrimination and inequality just because class levels are constructed. Moreover, they are not only based on wealth but rather other aspects too which end up becoming stereotypes of people who make up the majority of a class level. There are other effects that a class system can create other than just labeling people into the category of “rich” or “poor”, but with this classification comes the social effect of identifying against which makes the mind create categories of “us” and “them”, our society creates discrimination towards people of other classes. “Further, it is crucial to ascertain how class articulates itself in relation to other social relations and forms of oppression, such as race and gender (Monthly Review)”. Likewise, “like sexism, racism, and heterosexism, classism denotes negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors directed toward those with less power, who are socially devalued. Low-income people experience classism—oppressive “everyday practices, attitudes, assumptions, behavior, and institutional rules” (Bullock, 1995, p. 119)”. This ideology has been apparent for many years within the muggle world as well as the wizarding world, and both societies are shaped because of this level of discrimination. Throughout the world, media has contributed to molding the way a society thinks, and within the Harry Potter series, the media broadcasts the viewpoint of discrimination towards those of “impure blood”. “Lastly, cultural studies’ focus on media representations of race, gender, class, sexuality, and nation has given me new tools to discuss the effects of racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism on my clients’ lives. (Nylund 16)”. This statement from Nyland showcases how media can be both a positive and negative reinforcement of stereotypes, this ideology of reinforcing the stereotype just makes ending discrimination towards people of other classes all that more difficult and nearly impossible. “Such critics believe that Rowling’s texts create an implied reader who is asked to condemn the racism of the wizarding world—not only the distinction between “Mudbloods” and “pure bloods” voiced by its more extreme members, but also its limitations of the rights of sentient others and its foundation on enslavement of house elves (Horne 77)”.
This observation from Horne is a main argument that I am utilizing in this essay, through the archetypes of a class that is discriminated against, Rowling showcases that this is a real world problem, and not just something that is found within the world of magic, we are seeing an example of anti-racism and nondiscrimination against those of other classes. Continuing on, throughout history, there has been a division within society that has been created because of the ideology that one class is superior over another, “Marx distinguishes five levels of analysis (and he is not always clear on which he is operating in any particular analytical exercise). The first is the general abstract level, "more or less applicable to all forms of society." The second level is of the categories "which go to make up the inner organization of bourgeois society" (landed property, circulation and credit, the three great classes, and so on). That is as far as he got, for the most part. (Tabb 5)”. This ideology of Marxism is relevant because he is showcasing that from a very early time in history, there has been a strong and distinct sense of separation when it comes to classes, however, there is not a clear depiction of how they all function together, but it is stated that the first level of analysis is applicable to nearly every society. The idea that those that are not pure bloods are less than wizards who are of pure blood, has become a well-adapted and well known accepted discrimination throughout the wizarding world, and there are several extremes to this idea.