Class Background Inventory

CLASS BACKGROUND INVENTORY

· When you were growing up, what was your family’s source of income? (Investments, public assistance, parent(s) salaries or wages, from what occupations(s)?

· Describe your home(s) and neighborhood(s) growing up.

· How does the education you are getting now compare with the education of others in your family, in the previous two generations?

· How was your family’s leisure time spent when you were growing up?

· Circle five values or expectations from the list below that seem to be most valued in your family. Then underline five that seem to be least important:

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Ø getting by

Ø making a moderate living

Ø making a very good living

Ø gaining social status or prominence

Ø open communication among family members

Ø going to a place of worship

Ø keeping up with the neighbors

Ø being married and having children

Ø respecting law and order

Ø defending one’s country

Ø staying out of trouble with the law

Ø being politically or socially aware

Ø recognition

Ø community service

Ø saving money

Ø making your money work for you

Ø enjoying your money work for you

Ø getting a high school degree

Ø helping to advance the cause of one’s racial, religious, cultural group

Ø physical appearance

Ø being a professional

Ø being an entrepreneur

Ø owning a home

Ø being patriotic

Ø going to private school

Ø not being wasteful

Ø having good etiquette.

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Ø Other values or expectations not listed above?

· What do you appreciate or what have you gained from your class background experiences?

· What has been hard for you from your class background?

· What impact does your class background have on your current attitudes, behaviors and feelings? (About money, work, relationships with people from class/from a different class, your sense of self, expectations about life, your politics, etc.)

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