Is going to the circus a working class activity?

Oh no! Not a (gasp) TRACKSUIT!

You and your DH sound like an insufferable pair of twits. Fancy even spending time considering whether attending a circus is a working class activity! For goodness sake, what's wrong with just enjoying yourselves, regardless of what it is you are doing?

A low class activity? That's hilarious especially when ticket prices are considered.

No. It’s an old fashioned activity, dating from before TV. Theatres were in towns and cities. Circuses travelled. One used to come to my tiny village when I was a child. Everyone went. It must have been one of the last small family travelling theatres that somehow survived into the 1980s.

Going as an audience member, or going as a place of work?

We've taken my daughter a couple of times - they're not especially cheap things to do - so I'd disagree with it being quintessentially working class.

I go to Sirkus Finlandia every year, proper traditional circus, and the audience is always full of all types of people. And there's always at least one clown and they're always brilliant. Very international too, performers from all over the world. I would not say it is a class based activity at all.
Also go to a non-traditional circus that's more like acrobatic theatre, with a storyline. That might perhaps be viewed as more middle class (if it were in the uk) and ticket prices certainly reflect that (thankfully we get discounts as my children are/were in circus school)

I was born and raised working class and wasn’t allowed to attend the circus as mum said it was abusive to animals. DH was middle class and was taught the same.

Funfairs however are for everyone despite being run generally by the same people (Travelling Showmen).

Queen Victoria was fond of the circus and went a number of times.

@JLou08 for clarity: you said the op should check her behaviour “and you don’t like your children to be associated with working class” Then “it’s not a good way to raise children”. So I asked you what should be done to raise them in the way you suggest. You mentioned class. You want dc to mix. I’m asking how? How should the association happen? I actually believe people should do what they want free from class judgement. You want association between classes so to do this, class must be defined and people put in their boxes.

Well we weren’t as hung up on class then were we. We used to go to the circus on Blackheath and the fun fair

@JLou08 Why are you lost? You are attacking me because you know you wrote tosh about how dc should mix with other classes deemed lower. I asked how? I rather agree with other posters that it’s completely ridiculous for people to label themselves or to be given labels. So dc should do what suits them! Stuff engineering friendships and mixing with people you have given a label to.

William (Richmal Crompton) and Enid Blyton's kids, who were often but not always middle/upper class loved the circus.

I wouldnt be suprised if they are just wannabes and the poster feels the need to attempt a brag in here. They probably have very normal jobs like a teacher or something.

Your husband is ridiculous. Its a show. Do working class people not go to rugby or the theatre then? 😆 this sub is always talking about 'class'.

Me too. It's always the wannabe middle classes doing it too.

Good Lord. Who gives a shit about so called classes?

Why are so many people obsessed with labelling activites & leisure pursuits by class on MN? Drives me utterly potty.

Why do so many people in the UK bleat on about class so much? Council estate boy here, hands on trade went on to run my own business and employ people at one point in time (until I realised the stress was killing me). I had someone tell me once that I wasn't working class because I was an employer???! The thing is I hadn't thought about it and it wasn't me who brought the subject up. Class? I don't know. I worked, I was self employed now I'm home tending house and looking after wife and kids' day to day needs. I could ask what class that makes me..... but I couldn't care less... I'm just me.

Jesus OP, your update about parents in tracksuit bottoms and kids with part shaved heads makes you both sound even worse. You'd best hurry up and get a ballet booked and thoroughly browse the boden catalogue to cleanse yourselves.

I'm lost. I don't know what you're referring to? Maybe you're quoting the wrong poster.

@JLou08 You wanted dc to associate with the working class. I’m asking you how? You must have some idea as you wrote it. Just replicate your background? Why does class matter on a day out?

I'm not sure why you're asking me? I don't know what people think working class activities are. I grew up working class, my days out were swimming and playgrounds mostly with annual trips to a theme park in the summer and Blackpool illuminations in the Autumn. I never thought they were exclusive to the working class but maybe I'm wrong.

@JLou08 What else is a working class behaviour so we can join in? Just for a wider education obviously!

How can a children’s activity be for a certain class?

We used to go to the Halloweencircus every year but we got bored of it. It’s all stunts and acrobatics, some of the acts are very talented indeed.

Him being surprised that you took them suggests that you give the impression to him that you're a snob and don't like your children to be associated with working class. You should probably check that behaviour, it's not a good way to raise children.