Like so many people, I was born into a pretty conservative, middle-class family, one where this kind of world view is often unconsciously conditioned into people, which is why it is presented as a really hard thing to get away from. Ideologies about class and politics are very much socialised into someone, not taught: no one ever told me that one group of people was better than another, it was all in the accidental behaviours and remarks. And while socialisation and conditioning are known ways of ingraining views into someone, it is not that difficult to get away from them and reprogram your mind to see the world differently.
A key thing that helped me move away from the unconscious ideologies was having healthy conversations with friends who had a greater understanding of social issues than I did. These discussions allowed me to look at things in a completely different way, and to gain an understanding of the social inequalities and discrepancies that damage people’s lives. It is clear that the younger generations, particularly Gen-Z, are more open to important conversations such as those about mental health, race, and equality, and that we are willing to take responsibility and educate others.
While I was never truly a conservative, and neither were my parents, being socialised into middle-class ideologies, unconscious biases and prejudices are very common for people who haven’t figured out their morals or views yet. Especially living in a very white middle-class majority area, it isn’t hard to fall into the trap of conservatism. But it's also not very hard to get out of it: you just have to realise that you value equity and the needs of others over wealth and reputation.
Written by Kate Hopwood
Artwork by Zara Masood
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