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Deekayla Thomas

About Deekayla Thomas

http://www.colby.edu/directory_cs/dkthom23/

Posts by Deekayla Thomas:

The Gamemakers

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When you Google the definition of “elite”, there are two interpretations that stand out. The first definition concerns itself with the superiority of a select group that exceeds “in terms of ability or qualities” (Oxford Languages). The second definition, on the other hand, is more about the perception of an elite group. An elite group is “seen as having the greatest power and influence within a society…because of their wealth and privilege” (Oxford Languages). The Urban Dictionary defines elites as those that hold disproportionate amounts of control over the lives of others (“Urban Dictionary: Elite”). In this sense, the elite group which controls those without elite status is controlled from within by key players, more distinguished elites with an even higher status. So according to these definitions, being elite is just being better than other people at whatever level and gaining notoriety and power for existing under the category. 

But in practice, what does being elite truly mean? Who decides what the qualifications for being elite are in specific eras and regions? And, how has the characterization of eliteness been transformed in response to social changes through history? Well for starters, many sociologists and researchers consider there to be different types of “elites”. According to John Higley, there are two main categories: political elites and cultural elites (“Elites”). To give a quick example, Bernie Sanders is a political elite and, through the association of elite institutions, students at Colby College or Olive Grove Academy (a pseudonym) are cultural elites. As a Colby student though, it is quite difficult to see this school as an elite institution, and even more difficult to see myself as an elite individual. To me, Colby College is just an expensive college in Maine that offers extremely interesting classes. Since taking this class, however, I am beginning to see the various ways Colby falls into the elite category. This is why I ask about the qualifications and conditions of being an elite individual or other entity. 

One of the main reasons I find it difficult to consider myself elite is because I am a Black woman from a low-income community in the South. In no sense of the word do I consider myself to be a person with notoriety or power. And it is nearly impossible to look back at a time in history where a Black woman with my political and economic standing would be elite. In the first civilizations, as the practice of patriarchy grew, men were the only people considered elite. After this, eliteness became connected to money, wealth, and land leading to the expansion of colonization. As colonization efforts grew and more settlements began to be concreted, status was not only tied to sex, wealth, and land but also religion and perceptions of race. Now, being elite can entail a variety of characteristics and behaviors. Still, I feel it heavily concerns race and wealth, but I feel the definition has grown so that those with high levels of education and those with other great achievements can be included. This history brings me back to my question of who exactly determines the qualifications of elite standing? 

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It can be assumed that the guidelines the elite population use to conduct themselves are formulated within the group by those key players mentioned before. I would think that these key players base many of the elite characteristics they seek off of the behaviors and attitudes they observe in undesired communities. By looking at these communities, they see everything they do not want in their exclusive group of powerholders. But, more important than who is actually making the rules of eliteness is finding out who gives them their power. I fully believe that the elite population is only elite because the general public allows them to be. If the non-elite population decided to no longer recognize elite people and institutions as power holders, sure there would be class conflict for a while, but eventually, there would be no choice but to enact change.

“elite.” languages.oup.com. Oxford Languages. Web. March 2021.

“Elite.” UrbanDictionary.com. Urban Dictionary, 2018 Web. March 2021.

Higley, John. “Elites”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Nov. 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/elite-sociology. Accessed 30 March 2021.

Reinforcer or Propeller?

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Many elite high schools and colleges pride themselves on preparing their students to be leaders in the economic and social world. For example, an elite school in Jordan has a mission “to develop and empower young leaders who will drive change within and beyond their communities.” Colby College claims to provide “students with unmatched experiences leading to postgraduate success.” But how does this success and empowerment measure for students that have historically been left behind? Both schools mentioned above offer merit and need-based scholarships to expand their diversity and create opportunities for underprivileged students, but how do their elite standings impact the social mobility of the students they attract?

BTS member, Jungkook, looking confused.
Run BTS. Jeon Jungkook, 2019.

Being a student from an underrepresented socioeconomic class at a technically elite school, in reviewing this research, I began to wonder what the social mobility escalator is like for people in a similar situation to mine. Are students propelled from their low rungs on the ladder or are their class standings reinforced and solidified? How do I make sure I am one of the ones propelled? Inquiring minds would like to know. And even more important than just the student’s individual social promotion, how does attending an elite school impact their community as a whole? Do students use what they learned to uplift their communities or do students leave them in the dust once they get their degree? 

Dalila (a pseudonym), a student at a prominent elite school in Jordan appears to stand as evidence that elite schooling does promote students to higher social classes. She attended her high school on scholarships and now attends an exclusive liberal arts college in New England. Already, she has been placed in an environment that many can claim she would not have reached without attending the high school that she did. Her high school provided many opportunities for students to get out and experience other parts of the world while making connections to others along the way. And now, because of the social justice and civic engagement initiatives offered to her in high school, Dalila actually plans to return to her community after college and aid in their advancement. Her plans and current standing both seem to point to the idea of an improved socioeconomic standing.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Stephen Colbert, 2016.

However, according to an international study published in 2019, gaining admission to an elite program only raises the social class of wealthy males with an almost obsolete effect on people from low-income backgrounds. (Zimmerman) This is disturbing information because if their elite education won’t uplift a student’s standing, what will? In class, we are learning that there are many different components to consider when discussing social mobility because of the different forms of capital that contribute to an individual’s social class. I believe that even if their economic and institutionalized cultural capital does not get someone to a higher social class, factors such as social and symbolic capital could be extremely useful in getting jobs and climbing the mobility ladder that way. While at elite schools and colleges, if students can create wide enough social networks and gain recognition for their efforts, hopefully, they can use these things to propel themselves higher than they ever believed possible.

Zimmerman, Seth D. 2019. “Elite Colleges and Upward Mobility to Top Jobs and Top Incomes.” American Economic Review, 109 (1): 1-47.

DOI: 10.1257/aer.20171019