Working-class individuals often fear equality rather than desire it.

Evidence

How would these lower middle and working class men feel about a change in the social order such that they and their friends might suddenly be equal to others now higher or lower in the social order? Most of them wouldn’t like it. They would fear and resent this kind of equality. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2233 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

But, so I shall argue, many members of the working classes do not want equality. They are afraid of it. In some ways they already seek to escape from it. Equality for the working classes, like freedom for the middle classes, is a worrisome, partially rejected, by-product of the demand for more specific measures. Inequality has values to them which have been overlooked. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2139 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Working-class people desire welfare-state measures while fearing equality itself. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2139; For the privileged, equality can feel like discrimination — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 192; Believing gender equality is possible but too costly suppresses men’s collective guilt. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 601 (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• Working-class men would fear and resent genuine equality of status #corroborates (0.97) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2233
• Working-class voters fear equality and value inequality #corroborates (0.96) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2139