The Teacup Ministry & Other Stories: Subtle Boundaries of Class

In the global world of the twenty-first century, class boundaries are subtle and permeable, though real nonetheless. Markers of identity, authenticity, and belonging can change with a gesture or a glance, making people feel they do or don't belong in certain places, with certain people, at certain times. In these powerfully written ethnographic stories, Rhoda Halperin maps the boundaries of class by examining three themes: crossing class boundaries, class creativity, and class vulnerability.

In telling these stories, Halperin draws on a wealth of ethnographic experiences in this country and abroad. Her book challenges class stereotypes in ways that touch on universals across cultures and over time.

Rhoda H. Halperin (1946–2009) was Chair of the Department of Anthropology at Montclair State from 2004–2009. She was also Professor Emerita, Department of Anthropology, at the University of Cincinnati.