The authenticity ideal structurally favors the already high-status

Evidence

This has an overall effect of keeping us conservative when choosing signals. Our best tactic is to choose signals close to our immutable characteristics and in line with our origin stories. This has obvious political implications: as much as marginalized communities can better protect their creations through regulating authenticity, the overall focus on naturalness works much better for the manor born. The high-status individual, writes sociologist George Homans, “can afford to relax and be a natural man.” Strivers at the bottom must acquire status symbols and build on top of their origin stories. Authenticity can be yet another privilege of the elite. — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 275

Categorization

• XREF: Extends ch5 claim that involuntary cues reveal class: the naturalness ideal advantages those born to high-status habitus. — connects to: The ‘be yourself’ mandate disadvantages those outside privileged attributes — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 287; Elites gain status through effortless inherited cues while others must craft personas — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 286; Perceived legitimacy rests on engaging loyalties and fulfilling interests (+3 more)
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source

Broader Connections

• Authenticity functions as an exclusions tool guarding cultural production #corroborates (0.80) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 273
• Perceived legitimacy rests on engaging loyalties and fulfilling interests #complicates (0.72)