How is class presented in the media?

The rich make sweet sweet love, the poor just f-.....
In the media, people who are represented as affluent are often the ones in the given story or situation who fall deeply in love, whereas the poorer counterparts are the ones who are often looking for the quick release. The story that comes immediately to mind is 8 Mile. The main character experiences quick sexual conquest with the co-star Britney Murphey. This takes place in a taboo context and doesn't seem to mean more than physical attraction. Later on in the movie, Eminem’s' enemy and Britney’s character begin a relationship and experience a much more romanticized sexual conquest in comparison to Eminem and Britney's factory rendezvous. This shows an undercurrent of classism in that often in the media; the idea of being "In Love" often belongs to people who people like seeing in love. Celebrities and pretty people are supposed to be in love, and the average and unspectacular are supposed to clap for them.

Lower Class jobs can be sexualized in the working world.
The waitress, the nurse, the French maid, the secretary, the school girl, the stripper, the hot teacher, the pool-boy, and so on are often roles which are sexualized in media. These positions, unlike the less financially modest roles people can play in our society, seem to be unworthy of protection from sexual harassment in the media, whether it be on television, movies, or music. There is an assumption that attractive people who work these roles are always ready to romp where as people like executives and more professional roles would never consider such an unprofessional act. And if they do, it is often romanticized.

Sexual prowess makes up for position, affluence, or status.
Often in music status and affluence are very important. Male musicians often sing or rap about being willing to "Take care" of the object of their desire. Their physical attractiveness is more important than their financial, emotional, or psychological support that are often expected as just as much if not more important in real-world relationships. Furthermore, in music, women who have not only physical attractiveness but also have stable financial qualities and are emotionally and psychologically stable are unbelievable rarities worth dedicating entire songs to. When it comes to men, those who are not necessarily financially stable or have other shortcomings are not worth any type of relationship and are subject to being left by their partners or being cheated on because of those shortcomings, disregarding other redeeming qualities. Furthermore, songs like "The way I r" express that even though the male musician in the song isn't affluent, the woman will essentially lower herself to his level. This belief that finance is the focal point in sexual qualities and characteristics is a common theme in music.
Independent, by Webbie
The way I r by Timbaland
Lollipop by Lil Wayne

There is a proper way for certain classes to participate in sexuality.
In our readings for this last week, the idea was expressed that sexuality that is expressed to be proper from a feminist perspective is biased because if comes from academics and women in higher positions of power. It stated that any other form of sexuality is demeaning to women all over and that it does damage to feminism as a whole. In reality, there is legitimacy in alternative sexualities. Hustler was shown as an example of sexualized media that snubs the idea that class is somehow above alternative forms of sexuality. A blatant example of this is the news media, which sensationalizes celebrity and political sexual scandals, often extremely out of proportion. One example would be Carmen Kontur-Gronquist who was Mayor of Arlington, who lost her political position in Oregon because of some sexualized photos which were leaked to the media. Sex scandals in politics are often career killers even though at this point in our history, what these people do isn’t necessarily unusual.

Marriage quality…

In the movie “The Notebook”, the entire plot revolves around class struggle and sexuality. In the beginning, a rich young woman falls in love with a young country boy, who are both subsequently pulled apart by her mother and fathers distaste for the young man’s lack of refinement. Later in the movie, she meets a man during her stint as a nurse and, because of his financial status, is very much approved by her parents and they soon become engaged. Even though later on in the film the girl decides to abandon her fiancée for the protagonist, it is only after he has built himself a large and beautiful house, much of which was according to her original specifications earlier in the movie, and finds his own success as a carpenter. Even though there was a sense of class resolution, there really wasn’t because the country boy had to come up in the world before she reconsidered her future.