Socioeconomic Status

Everything is Not What It Seems: Socioeconomic Status at Wellesley College

Written by Delaney R., Leilani A., and Ashley A.

This exhibit shows the change in the socioeconomic status of Wellesley students over time and how it may change in the future in students’ public and private lives.

The Wellesley Students’ Aid Society was founded in 1878 to provide funds for low-income students. Its establishment dispelled Wellesley’s reputation of enrolling only wealthy students. To show past attitudes on socioeconomic status, this unexpectedly inexpensive piece of Blue Willow ware ceramic from the recent archaeological dig reveals an alternate representation of the wealth at Wellesley 100 years ago.

To demonstrate Wellesley’s continued efforts of increasing socioeconomic diversity and the concern of the inclusivity of low-income and minority students, we are using a pair of shoes from the WSAS Clothes Closet, for our present object.

Despite Wellesley’s efforts, we still think items worn and used by low-income students will emulate those worn by wealthier students. The two identical bracelets of different colors show how objects mimic one another. The fake social media pictures show flashy displays of wealth in students’ lives to show that we do not foresee private displays of wealth fully going away.

Past evidence of Socioeconomic Status

Before Wellesley’s College Hall burned to the ground in 1914, students ate off of plates personalized with the Wellesley logo, like the one pictured here. This fragment, from a plate that was at least half as expensive as the personalized plate pictured, was instead used for personal use: by a servant, faculty member, or even a student. As students walked from class to class and dining room to dorm room, they carried with them a distinct reputation. The common perception of Wellesley and its students was one of great wealth, and though the College did much to display high status, this plate fragment shows that some Wellesley community members came from less wealthy backgrounds. Compared to the commercial, relatively inexpensive china actually used by Wellesley’s community members, the personalized plates in the dining created an atmosphere of wealth and luxury. One that may have been unknown to many of the students of Wellesley themselves.

Present-day evidence of Socioeconomic Status

The pair of running shoes was borrowed from the Wellesley Students’ Aid Society (WSAS) Clothes Closet, a free resource for students. Wellesley makes an effort of trying to eliminate institutional socioeconomic barriers for students through resources like the WSAS Clothes Closet. The Clothes Closet has jeans, shoes, shirts, business attire, winter jackets, and other items that students may be in need of. The Clothes Closet is not a resource that is widely publicized around campus, and it is mostly used by students who are aware of WSAS and what it provides for students. The pair of shoes was donated by someone from the Wellesley College community or the town of Wellesley for the use of a student in need of a pair of running shoes. They were mass produced in a factory and is mostly made of polyester and rubber.

Future evidence of Socioeconomic Status

The inspiration behind these bracelets is the Cartier Love bracelet, which has recently seen a surge in popularity. Pricier models cost more than $5000. Currently, some consider it poor taste to overtly display wealth on campus, especially with efforts to increase diversity on campus (i.e. bring more low-income students to Wellesley). While most students wear casual clothing on campus, many do not hide their jewelry, and these subtle status symbols are everywhere. The differences in color symbolize differences in material quality, representing the abundance of knock off luxury goods in a consumerist culture and their place in our past and future. It would take a keen eye to discern a $20 imitation.

As we can see in the Nike shoes and the ceramic, Wellesley is becoming more diverse, but if people continue to imitate the wealthy with knock offs it will only become more difficult to tell. Many students are not so humble in private. Here, we demonstrate the flashy, costly behavior of privileged students on social media: horseback riding, travel, fine dining, skiing, and festivals. In the future, we think this private behavior and public modesty, flashy goods and knock offs, will continue as long as our culture values the conflicting ideals of prestige and inclusive socioeconomic diversity.

*Please note that some fossil casts of early hominins and a replica human anatomical teaching model used in palaeoanthropology courses may be visible in the background of these photos*

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