To wonder what social class I really am?

[veraaloe]

I’d always assumed that I was lower middle class until someone the other day said that I was working class. (She on the other hand is daughter of a plumber who’s successful)

My background is like this.

Mum: Working class, state comp + non RG uni. “Senior” teacher+management. Government work abroad too.

Dad: (upper?) Middle class, went to a big name public boarding school followed by a RG uni, gave up on pHd. Cleaners and nanny growing up. Educated parents. Is in a “profession”. Works for management in local state sector.

Me: State comp but only for people of a certain cultural background. Likes classical music etc. Avid reader. Study at Oxbridge. Lived in a 4 bed period semi in a “nice” area, albeit in a poorer area of the UK. Money has always been fairly tight but holidays abroad every year etc.

Sibling: Doctor.



As I am yet to get my own job etc, what social status would you see me as?

[darkriver198868]

I would consider you Middle Class.

I guess I am considered "working class"

Parents never worked and have lived on council estates all of our lives. I dont working due to being disabilities.

[kaytee87]

You're middle class

[elQuintoConyo]

In answer to your thread title: you are middle class.

Only the middle class worry what class they are.

Now off to read your first post...

[acquiescence]

You are middle class. How could someone who is oxbridge educated, sibling a doctor, father privately educated and brought up with staff be considered working class?!

[chickenowner]

Middle class.

But does it really matter?

[falsepriest]

Royalty.

[Babyplaymat]

Middle. But do people really have this sort of conversation in real life?

[FloydOnThePull]

I think back when this sort of thing mattered the definition was that if you had a profession then you are middle class, if you are independently wealthy and live off the income from your owned assets you are upper class and if you go out to work other than in a profession you are working class. So you'd be working class and your sibling would be middle class but really who gives a monkeys, it's not really a useful classification.

[RestingBitchFaced]

Why is mumsnet obsessed with this? Does it matter? Also what is common or not 🙄

[Madmarchpear]

You are middle class but have relegated yourself to lower middle for asking the question.

[Maremaremare]

You are "Middle Middle class", not Lower Middle or Upper Middle. Not Working class either

[BarbaraofSevillle]

Many so called class markers have fuck all to do with class to the extent that few people are a defined class any more.

That sort of thing dates back to times when almost no-one went to university or bought their own home, and 'the professions' paid more than manual work.

Now there is so much overlap in income, education levels and interests that the whole thing is fairly meaningless.

People would agree on class if there was an objective definition, which there isn't.

[Kitsharrington]

I really need to know the context of this conversation where you were told you were working class!!

[NewYearNewMe18]

Class is never what you think it is. It takes three generations to move a social class. David Cameron and Boris Johnson are 'middle class'. I sincerely doubt anyone dabbling on this forum is their social equivalent.

Income does not equate to class. You don't suddenly win the lottery, acquire 8.7 million and become the social equivalent of landed gentry. Ditto Prince Harry comes from a broken home, struggled with his A levels and didn't go to uni (let alone the mythical 'Oxbridge') and lives in cottage at the bottom of his nans garden. This does not make him working class.

'Class' just is. We all know from one glance what 'class' someone comes from without them even having to open their mouths.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

To illustrate my previous post:

Example A. First class degree and professional qualifictions, listens to Radio 4, interested in museums, the arts, country walks, city breaks, holidays in naice places, cooks from scratch with lentils and spices, doesn't like All Inclusive in Benidorm, Magaluf etc. Financially comfortable homeowner with a good pension.

Example B. Daughter of a miner and a shop assistant. All older male relatives miners, all older female relatives shop assistants, SAHPs, factory workers, barmaids. Drinks pints, lives on a council estate, sits in the front garden drinking in the summer, has tattooes, swears, works in heavy industry.

What class are person A and B?


BTW, every single one of the above bits of information and the examples are about me.

[HairyToity]

Middle class

[PaperdollCartoon]

You’re middle class, but class is much more complex than earnings or jobs, it’s very much about culture and taste as well which makes it more subjective (I have an academic interest in the subject)

[RoseWhiteTips]

Definitely middle class!

[RoseWhiteTips]

Money is less important than other factors many of which you have listed.

[yorkshireyummymummy]

I’m not trying to be passive aggressive here, I just really want to understand.
darkriver198868 considers herself to be working class yet ( due to no fault of her own ) doesn’t work, but admits that parents have lived all of their lives in council houses ie houses provided by the state and have never worked. How can you be working class if you have NEVER worked? Surely the parents mentioned the comment must be a different class - but what class is this?

OP! You are middle class but I don’t know why you felt the need to ask. The class system is not purely about money.

[NewYearNewMe18]

I thought example B was Carole Middleton - until I realised your example had tattoos etc and not her relatives !

[RoseWhiteTips]

You are not lower middle.

[Ihatemyclients]

You definitely aren't working class with the parents and background you have. Definitely middle class.

What job would you like to do? (It doesn't matter, I'm just interested!)

[RoseWhiteTips]

Why is this question interesting? Because so many people get worked up about it. Those who profess not to - or say it doesn’t matter - are those who are actually most concerned about it.

[Betarocker]

Me: born and bred in terrace in Northern town. Dad worked in a factory mum in a warehouse. Local comp and 6th form. Have tattoos, enjoy corrie, love chips and gravy.

Degree in my 30s masters in my 50s. Professional role. Had work published. Enjoy eating out, good wine, art, holidays far and wide, own 4 bed home outright and car outright. Still working class...it's in my blood.