The underclass

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Someone on a group I belong to on line. Used the word underclass I had never heard of it and had to look it up. I think its a horrible offensive word.

As a previously long standing member of that class I think it's quite good that there is a descriptive word that brings attention to the plight of people stuck in the poverty trap.

It's very easy for the government and rest of society to ignore those who have slipped through the net or who have got stuck in a situation where there's no escape. Mostly that'll be parents for whom childcare is more than they could earn. Also those in private rented whose income is consumed by rent.

So while under has got connotations of inferior, in fact it is also descriptive as under the mean income - and poverty certainly makes you feel under the radar.

I think the key point is very litter power or choice to improve their lives something the vast majority forget.

It's been used historically. It is a horrible term but very descriptive of what people have to endure.

The word was iirc used to differentiate the life chances of this group from those of the wider working class.

It's a term used when looking at the world through the prism of class. It should be left to the intellectuals imo and it's not a word I'd use in normal conversation. Then again I cringe a bit at working class, middle class etc and don't use them to describe individuals as at that level I think they are way too broad brush and open to misinterpretation.
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Where have you been to have never heard the word before?

Nowadays class seems to be the one subject that we cannot discuss - even on MN. You can discuss sex, masturbation and death. You can use expressions like "fuck" and "cunt". However references to differing social classes evoke a storm of protest.

There may be a naive belief that we are "all equal" nowadays but that is certainly not true. I was born into a lower working class family and it did limit my life chances when I was younger. Going to university was not even raised as a topic and my parents had no perception of education as a means by which young people from poor backgrounds could raise themselves out of the poverty trap. My family lived from hand to mouth and viewed their position as "thats how life is". The ambition of studying to better ones prospects was viewed as disrespectful to the example of "hard work" they had set and studying was "faffing about" because you were not contributing to the family budget.

This word was certainly commonplace when I did my thesis 20 years ago, as mine was specifically on gendered inequalities in the socioeconomic group categorised as the underclass, and the specific issues women in that group face around childcare, gendered roles within the home and access to education and employment. Under in this case is not meant to mean 'lesser' but below, same as upper class is above from this perspective in terms of access to opportunity and wealth. The underclass are the persons below the working class for these things, usually out of work or very part time work, trapped in a poverty cycle where outgoings meet or exceed income so there is never anything spare to put into training, moving to a more desirable school catchment, purchasing a car, owning their own home, buying a computer or putting in home internet etc.

It's a word that is more relevant today than before. More people are stuck due to rent, costs of childcare, coats of living etc.

Then you get suggestions of "move house" or "take in ironing" or borrow money from family, who are more than likely in the exact same circumstances or worse, for ways to improve your circumstances, ways which are so beyond reach you may as well say "catch a shooting star".

Don’t shy away from something that you feel offended about.

An underclass still exists but not by the same definition as in previous era’s.

Today’s underclass may be poor in terms of disposable income but have access to health care, housing and benefits. Education and jobs are available but many with a deprived upbringing struggle to be high achievers.

These people were the foundation of society by working as unskilled labourers and later in factories but we no longer require many of these positions as manufacturing has gone abroad and labour intensive work has been replaced with machinery and technology.

What term do you prefer op? This term has been about for ever. It’s unusual to never have heard it. It’s not meant in an offensive way.

I think of underclass as those often with drink and drug problems - no one can 'help' them unless they want to recover from the addiction.

I think working class, which to me means non professional, no further education, used to mean working for someone, factory worker, little chance of advancement. Now these people are joiners, plumbers etc, run their own businesses (need quite a bit of intelligence) and doing very well ime. So I don't really think working class applies now.

Whilst it can be used as an insult (I am presuming that it what irked you), it is essentially a socio economic descriptor of people marginalised from society with few if any opportunities to escape their circumstances

@HollyGrail Your thinking is incorrect. Most people in the underclass are there through poor life opportunities, poor education, not poor choices. These groups are common in ex mining communities, as an example.

(That's not to say there is no overlap. Drug and alcohol abuse is not unusual in these communities, along with poor mental and physical health.)

Not a nice word but it reflects a section of society who are largely forgotten except when one or more of them interferes in some way with the lifestyle or daily life of others.

Yes, the Tories used the phrase around the riots in 2011, a 'feral underclass'.

A horrible word if used insultingly

A useful word if trying to bring attention and change to a struggling group

The term "underclass" is outdated and offensive IMO.

Sure you have the disadvantaged, underprivileged, the porr, less well off, the comfortable and well off and those that spend more than they earn on non essentials.

There is no "underclass in England as far as I know but there are the rich and the well off and educated that mix in certain circles and have what I perceive to be a posh accent.

It's not offensive, it's factual.

I dont think its offensive. Its widwly used in academia on the subject.

It can be used in an offensive way though. Context is important.
I'd be none too impressed if someone for example referred to my family members as underclass.

@PollyValent

It can be used in an offensive way though. Context is important. I'd be none too impressed if someone for example referred to my family members as underclass.

Any word can be used in an offensive way, doesn't make the word itself offensive.

I wouldn't disagree.
We haven't been given the context. That may have affected op's reaction.

@HollyGrail

I think of underclass as those often with drink and drug problems - no one can 'help' them unless they want to recover from the addiction.

I think working class, which to me means non professional, no further education, used to mean working for someone, factory worker, little chance of advancement. Now these people are joiners, plumbers etc, run their own businesses (need quite a bit of intelligence) and doing very well ime. So I don't really think working class applies now.

That’s not what underclass is I’m sorry, you can be very wealthy with drink or drug problems, it is not a descriptor of addiction issues.

"Now these people are joiners, plumbers etc, run their own businesses (need quite a bit of intelligence) and doing very well ime. "

The business owner is middle class, but someone working for a plumber or other tradesman is working class.
The kind of work you describe like factory work still exists and includes service jobs like working in McDonalds now that manufacturing is dwindling in the UK.

I've never thought of it in an offensive way.
Have always thought of the underclass as those who society has abandoned.