guess ill go first :P

[Eru]

so this thread may wind up a flop...but eh...here goes:

Within the US, what do you guys think causes more disadvantage within society, race or zipcode?

In my experience teaching (college level) lower-income adults, I have seen many students of many races exhibit all ranges or drive, intelligence, and ability. However, what I see working against most of them is the fact they live in an impoverished area which seems to breed a certain sub-culture which is hard to escape.

The reason I question this against race, is that many of the students I work with claim that it is race which is holding them back. Being a white male I cant say I’ve ever felt much negative societal pressure, so I’m willing to admit there may be more to it than simply zipcode, but I still tend to think zipcode has more to do with the issue.

Also I realize this may be different in different areas inside the US (ie: Southern vs. Midwestern, vs. New England, vs. Western states)

I’m also interested in an international opinion as to how you see these two aspects working within *your* country.

[Triumph]

Race and zip code are equal in terms of disadvantage for those less fortunate.

When it comes to race, those of African American descent will tend to experience more intolerance, disrespect, and racial slurs than those who are not. Similar to those with Hispanic descent in the United States; many people automatically characterize anyone that is Hispanic to be automatically Mexican, rather than, say, Peruvian. Some will go further and claim the individual in question is actually an illegal immigrant.

Similar with zip codes. First off, I live in a reasonably well-off area. My county is fortunate to grace Wikipedia's top 50 highest personal income counties. I don't notice too much of an issue with zip codes here, but I know for a fact that those people from New York and other prominent areas will tend to sneer at someone who mentions that they are from a lesser prominent area, or perhaps a less wealthy region. Teenagers are much the same. Nocal vs. Socal is one example. My school teems with people who are Aberzombies who insist on wearing Abercrombie, who sometimes scorn people who wear Hollister. I have traveled through certain areas that are not as fortunate in terms of wealth, and I'll be honest: I did shudder at the thought of living in such places.

[Hessah]

Do you guys mean zipcode by the area that you live, rich/poor suburb?

[Spirit]

Yeah. We also call it "the other side of the tracks" <--- although that can have many meanings. Not just race, but also financial boundaries. Kind of like, I am considered middle-class, so the ritzy neighborhoods would deem me from the wrong side of the tracks, because I do not live in a 2 million dollar house.

[Hraesvelg]

I've been to California. You can HAVE it. Never getting a return on a friendly "Hello!" and getting looked at suspiciously for letting an elderly woman (with fewer items) go in front of me in a grocery store then getting nearly mocked for bringing a hostess gift in the form of a bottle of wine...fie on it.

[Spirit]

Is it not wierd how different our cultures are simply based on where we live IN the US? Things in the South are so much different. Not backwards different, just different.