This exists in the military, where quality of service and dedication is more important than one's status as a civilian. Similar haircuts, similar uniforms, and similar duties are a great leveler: while there is a hierarchy, the hierarchy is respected because it is based upon merit, not upon the financial status of one's parents. Rank must be earned, respect cannot be bought.
Perhaps this sense of equanimity is why the fact soldiers must live in such close quarters is tolerated with relative ease. Also, the small spaces we do possess must be kept clean and orderly. Although we may personalize things to some degree, we do not have the freedom of someone living in a college dorm to create an entirely individualized space. In many ways, this is a relief. There is none of the rage and resentment that often results when someone with morning classes must struggle to deal with a roommate who begins to study at...
While the lack of opportunity to express one's self through decor may sound frustrating this also prevents the use of economic status to distinguish one's 'space.'
In cities, wealthy people often deal with the problem of overcrowding through doormen-protected buildings, and shopping in exclusive shops and districts that keep out the poor through economic barriers. As we share the same experience in the military, we do not wish to keep one another out of the base stores, fitness centers, and other areas where we feel a sense of solidarity with what lies before us everyday. A common sense of purpose and mission can create a common culture, even in a highly diverse population, and perhaps this is what America needs to lessen some of the tensions that exist in highly overcrowded areas.
