Middle class identifiers 2022

[Pullandpush]

I read a similar thread a few years ago & the main middle class markers were hummus, organic food, private education, boden, ski trips etc, farrow & ball..
Are these unchanged for 2022 or have the identifiers shifted?
Since the pandemic I've seen a rise in the "hipster" style MC especially the men, maybe the working from home has allowed them to relax into the unshaven, casual look which wasn't there a few years ago...
Private education seems to be on the wane but that may be due to the cost of living..
Any other main MC identifiers I missed?

I agree with PP that the days of MC kids swanning through the doors are thankfully largely over. DH is a partner in a large international law firm and wouldn't dream of arranging work experience

Yes I agree with this, the practice has largely completely stopped in finance too. Everything is vetted and carefully monitored through HR and no one at all is given special treatment. I agree with the change and feel it is more equitable.

I find the global and international element has changed things, some people now do not identify themselves with any one country any longer.

There’s no middle class anymore, only the mega rich and the workers if you need to work for a living, you’re working class.

@Samanabanana thanks for your comment! Such a relief! I didn't identify with most of the other things mentioned but due to my job I think I'm middle class.

I bought lurpak recently so all is good now.

But does it count since I bought it in Iceland? ( I have never stepped foot in a Waitrose)

Except that’s way too simplistic. Because the variation among people who work is vast.

Which is where ‘middle class’ comes in.

I would say a black Labrador, called Milo

Everything is subtle, nothing loud. So no display of labels, teeth will be clean but not whitened, etc

Camping very popular with the mc we know also

Where I live it’s open water swimming and wearing Dryrobes ( even if you haven’t been wet). 😊

Thinking of the MC mums I know… most of them are SAHMs and currently have a “student”. He/she is here to improve their English, helps with the garden & childcare.

It’s very “in” to have a student

Totally forgot about this, same in our area even the kids have the dryrobes.. Extra kudos if you seaswim in winter... Very popular with MC mummies before they drop the kids to school, the wet messy bun & no make up/natural red cheeks is a badge of honour!

Middle calls - It’s not a thing anymore.
I think SPAG is a very MC thing.😏

Emoticons are LC.

Self-depreciation is UC.

Key signs of 2022 urban upper middle classdom in my neck of the woods: home composting; craft beer; cold water swimming; cortados; running or cycling to work; babyzen yoyos; Apple air pods; a child called Rafferty or Leo or Margot or Eva.

This is not said with any bitterness. I absolutely love a good middle class stereotype and am a massive airpod-wearing cortado drinker msyelf. 😉

an insufferable need to talk about in on mumsnet when no one actually cares

Oh yes. I absolutely second this. Cold water swimming and dryrobes are HUGE.

YOU cared enough to click on the thread.

AND post.

The fact it is constantly discussed on MN suggests that quite a few someones care enough to post about it

Is a dryrobe a dressing gown?

I know of several people fitting that description, but they're from different classes.

Yet here you are, commenting regardless and perfectly able to see there are lots of posts from people who are indeed interested in discussing it. I, like the OP do find it fascinating.

Dry robes are kind of like a dressing gown - big oversized coats very warm and waterproof. Big enough to change under. Similar are available for different disciplines too. There is the equidry coat which is much the same designed for wearing over all your other clothes in an equestrian setting and one (not sore the brand) for waiting by the side of cold football or rugby pitches

Me too...the things listed are just things, there are lots of people around here who drive big electric cars and look well put together, but I wouldn't refer to them as MC.

I think MC is being well spoken, articulate, educated, confident...and having time to contribute to your local community

My children are no longer very young, but the niche, mostly Scandinavian-type brands, still appear to be popular from what I've seen. Dunns and Bobo Choses, for example.

Haha.
I'm definitely working class, or even lower class. I am disabled on benefits which have been cut and frozen by the current govt for years and live on a council estate, don't even have floors in one of my rooms. Live on less than 10k a year including housing!!

I think middle class isn't necessarily made up of what people consume, it's in some people's attitude towards others - "give / donate charity" rather than preserving autonomy, and the undeserving vs deserving poor, and 'we worked ourselves out of poverty why can't everyone' mentality. You can't see you are being played.

I eat lots of hummus, but only because its often reduced yellow sticker for 25p at my local supermarket. Its preferable to me to be able to choose from heavily reduced items than be at the mercy of food bank. Bodies need fresh veg.

I do grow some food as a hobby, but can't afford for it to be really successful.

I have been known to try buy Boden second hand when I can, simply because the cut hides my mummy tummy and it lasts longer.

The saddest thing is how people usually stick to their own 'class' for friendships, I feel left out of a lot of things because there's no way I could even afford a coffee at a coffee shop most months, without missing a bill or not eating for days.

Disagree. Lots of helping hands, informal work shadowing, introductions, arranging an entry level summer job, emails to friends of friends of friends who might know someone and making introductions. Harder, agree, to do a formal work placement but lots of of informal support. This includes interview tips reviews of applications, who to contact and mention their name..............

These sound good! I am going to investigate. Although also they sound a bit like 'a coat'.