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?

Ok I will play as it's very MC around here

'A man who can' - lots of white vans around here doing peoples lawns, cleaning windows, handymen, (even the odd bit of pool maintenance for the very large house on the street)

Very cute -Cockapoos /labradoodles/Maltese schitzu

Lots of food deliveries- Ocado, vegetable box companies

Roof racks with cycles on 4 wheel drives

@palygold I had only recently heard of cortado, too. I wanted to try it but worried it might be too strong? Is it made with condensed milk?

Not sure if you're joking, but I'm going to assume not. Cortados are delicious. Less milky than a flat white but not as aggressive as an expresso. They are made with a steamed milk of your choice. I have "normal" milk, but I'm sure the ultra middle class drink theirs with oat or nut milk.

@Neverendingdust and I totally agree with that- I know some very well off people financially who have pretty old and messy cars and never ever buy new clothes etc.

Never thought the Royals were that classy anyway! Catherine Cambridge - pah! I knew he should've married someone less keen on fashion with a healthier appetite!
You know it's all nonsense, or maybe you don't - they are as screwed up as the rest of us, maybe more so - we only ever find out much later when their diaries are uncovered.

I always think the best signifier of class is ....not caring about class signifiers. The people who don't really notice/care that the rest of the neighbourhood all drive 'nice' cars but they drive an old rust bucket. The people who don't redecorate their house with trends because they are confidently comfortable with it as it is. Really middle class people don't seem to be swayed by peers all obsessing over getting their kids into the latest 'best school', or by anything others are doing really, they just aren't particularly influenced by others in that way? A lot of the signifiers people have listed here are just trends: Boden clothes, particular holiday destinations, farrow and ball paint, certain types of car. I don't think 'class' follows trends.

No, I wasn't joking. Thank you! I'm going to try one now.

I live on a council estate, my neighbour is a single mum like me and her eldest has started work at one of the leading law firms in London, she’s beautiful and intelligent but she is from a real working class or perhaps not even working class background, I wonder how she will be received and perceived? She can certainly hold her own, that’s for sure.

I always think the best signifier of class is ....not caring about class signifiers

I think you're right. Those who are the beneficiaries of class privilege tend not to 'see' it in the same ways as the have-nots

Family from Ukraine staying in the 6 bed "cottage"

Boys mum I agree.

I think in fact shoes off I a huge signifier.

I think it is undoubtedly true that your background can give you an advantage - educated parents in the professions, can give their dcs the confidence to apply (even to the intern positions) and guide them through the application process. That is why I keep trying to encourage parents on here to encourage their kids to apply, if you can't support them, university careers depts will so encourage your dcs to use them. If they don't apply we can't give them a job.
As I said before if you have to find your dc their first professional job, it doesn't say much for their initiative - why can't they do it themselves - what are they lacking?

Chickens (for rural MC).

We live in a small, extremely affluent MC village (didn't realise quite how affluent until we moved here) and during school holidays it feels like DS brings home more than we do from all the chicken feeding he does while owners are away.

That's great news, good to hear! Things have changed, hopefully, she'll be taken for what she is, a talented young person with loads of potential!

I think you will always get people who don't care - I think their class has nothing to do with it - they wouldn't care regardless - my dad was a bit like that, fairly eccentric...just did not care, much to my mother's deep frustrations.

I read no garlic allowed in any cooked meals in royal households as it’s seen as low class. I’m not sure that’s true but it was from an ex chef to the royals.

You ALL work, whatever your status. You do not have enough money not to work, therefore, you are working class that wants to be better with a non existent, made up middle class status to make you feel a bit better.

I find it really interesting, always have. Growing up I couldn't reconcile that we were WC given that so many around us had so little, whilst we had a home and both my parents worked (literally a blue collar job, and checkout operator).

Now I'm in a professional role with a 6 figure salary but the broadest WC accent. I'm always conscious of it amongst my MC colleagues.

We have a nice big house, a decent car not on tick, and it feels very MC in terms of income. But the markers that people mention don't quite ring true. Kids have cultural capital to a degree, because we're interested in stuff and not juggling 3 jobs in can take them out at weekends. We holiday cheaply (camping) because we enjoy it and it's good value.

Lots of SUVs and North Face here which I associate with dry dealers and scalls rather than MC!

To truly know, I think it has to be what couples watch on Netflix - feeling comfortable with and relating to a certain type of programme.

I guess wealthy professional people will sometimes pay privately for healthcare. That's another marker.

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..

Cor, most of those sound quite good, except for the hummus and organic food of course.

Where do I sign up?

It varies from generation to generation:

70s/80s - antique furniture
private education
Laura Ashley

nowadays:

@carefullycourageous - I know a few middle classes who are definitely both plastic grass and grey interiors. I'd add to that, 'bright' colours, loads of inspirational quote posters and trendy art prints plus interior items, Gisela Graham etc.

Dress is dungarees/pinafores, lots of Lucy and Yak, Veja, obscure sourced labels.

I don't care where I shop, if it's eco friendly or not. Brought up lower middle class, probably more working class.

I think this may be the English.

Do you have an example of the situations? Just interested.

Personally in this world at moment, I think middle class is people who are living within their means comfortably. They are not poor or rich.

That’s me screwed, I’ve converted to Nordpak 😂

It's not all of MN, just the lower middle class who desperately try to differentiate themselves from the working class. Of course, sooner or later, the WC catch up and start buying and using the same things the LM chose to make themselves different, so they have to find other things to mark themselves out as 'better'. It's a never-ending cycle.

Do tell, what Netflix programmes are middle class?