Stories of advancement  Take a seat?

Are stories of advancement in literature helpful motivators or manipulative fairy tales? To belong (or not to belong) was primarily an economic issue in the 20th century. The view of social dynamics has evolved since then, and classification into social classes now goes beyond purely economic factors.

But literature often makes it easy for itself: if you only want to, you can “make it” is the credo, and the public likes it. A large number of factors are ignored, and the recipe for success of a whole series of books published in recent years seems questionable.

Modern class society 

Societies produce barriers due to various factors that determine the social structures of their members and thus give rise to a kind of “modern class society”. The ideological concept of class coined by Marx and Engels has probably gone somewhat out of fashion in the meantime. However, the question of a person's income and property is no longer the only characteristic used to determine their position within society. While Marx considered “outsiders” primarily in the context of those who are outside the capitalist system, the reality in 2024 is more complex. Since the 1980s, French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu has been pointing out the religious and cultural influences that, alongside economic factors, favor the classification of the population. According to Bourdieu, different cultural environments are the breeding ground and definition of social disparities. In literature, the feeling of being outside a certain “class” often serves as a template for stories in which the protagonists take their lives into their own hands and achieve a rocket-like vertical ascent across social classes through sheer force of will.

Between two extremes

A good example of this is the autobiographical novel by German journalist and author Christian Baron, Ein Mann seiner Klasse (A Man of His Class), in which he deals with his childhood experiences and the desire to belong. He describes the feeling of growing up in poor conditions in a rich country and being caught between two extremes. The novel caused controversy as it is monocentric and revolves around Baron's perception of his own history, and no general social problem can be derived from it

But that is precisely his claim. He takes up the motif of the outsider, which often serves as a hook for stories about the pursuit of integration. These stories are almost exclusively about the attempt to become part of a new “environment”. However, despite their best efforts, the protagonists only partially succeed in integrating into their new environment. Journalist Isabelle Rogge describes this situation as follows: “For a long time, I didn't know how to verbalize this feeling properly. The feeling that I no longer really belong in certain circles and will never really belong in others.”

The gap in between  

But how is it possible to bridge the gap between different social classes and ultimately leave it behind? In addition to the trust that others place in you, above all you need to believe in yourself. However, this alone is rarely enough. Christian Baron has succeeded in “climbing the educational ladder”, as he calls it himself. And yet the past accompanies him into the present, tainted by the feeling of being different. A current example is provided by the American politician J.D. Vance, whose book “Hillbilly Elegy”, published in 2016, addresses the social problems of the white American working class alongside his life story. Vance grew up in a working-class family and was confronted with unemployment and addiction at a young age. He also leaves his home and seemingly leaves the past behind him. After serving in the Marines, he graduated from Yale Law School, which paved the way for him to enter politics. But Vance returns to his native Ohio and becomes Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate in 2024. Parallels can also be found with the German stand-up comedian, podcaster and author Felix Lobrecht, who tells a similar life story in his novel Sonne und Beton (Sun and Concrete). Lobrecht strove to leave his difficult childhood in the Neukölln prefabricated housing estate Gropiusstadt behind him and rise into the academic upper class. Despite his student status (political science) and his efforts to adapt - such as wearing alternative clothing and his involvement in the poetry slam - he too failed to merge with the elite upper class. “But then I somehow realized that even if I looked like the others, I still wouldn't be accepted into this group.” 

Benches and barriers

The term transclasse (class crosser) by French philosopher Chantal Jaquet makes it clear that social classes do not simply merge into one another, but are separated from one another by barriers, making social advancement more difficult. In literature, such “border crossings”, as Isabelle Rogge calls them, are often simplified and idealized, creating a one-sided picture. There are also almost dreamlike stories of social advancement outside of literature: Eminem, Oprah Winfrey or Céline Dion. But these examples are often the exception. In fact, in addition to exceptional skills, faith and luck, social advancement requires one thing above all: hard work.

However, true integration does not only mean adaptation and external transformation, but also acceptance of one's own identity. A first step in the right direction is to recognize the uniqueness and complexity of the problem and offer concrete solutions, such as better educational opportunities and access to housing. This could gradually break down barriers and prejudices and create a more permeable, inclusive society. A society, so to speak, full of benches instead of individual chairs, in which encounters at eye level are possible - regardless of social background.
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