A new report from the uni of Sheffield has found Welfare reform reinforces growing class prejudice reminiscent of Victorian era, writes Jayne.

”Many people now attribute unemployment and poverty to the failings of individuals, rather than to structural weaknesses in the British economy and entrenched socio-economic inequalities. Worryingly, negative views around welfare were also extended to the physically disabled and mentally ill. The research therefore suggests that, in the aftermath of the recession, there has been a decline in empathy and understanding for some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in our society,” the report states [bolding mine].

I can’t help thinking this decline in empathy and understanding has something to do with the lack of challenge from the Country’s’ leaders towards prejudice, instead the current Political discussion is full of ‘blame culture’. When comments such as “we’re like under siege’ from ‘huge numbers’ of migrants“,  “some” disabled people are “not worth the full wage”, “Women ‘to blame’ for being raped” or  ‘people getting really good benefits are going to charity food banks; not only go without challenge but are also regularly justified by skewed statistics pulled from the ether, we, as a nation, are  in trouble.

The really crazy thing about this, is we the ‘minorities’ actually  form a ‘majority’, and the only things holding us back are our individual fears of difference and of change.

Read the rest of the article on Jayne Linney’s blog.

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