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?

And I’d say that Patagonia and Rab are more MC than North Face. 👍🏻

Round my way both parents privately educated and their own parents were privately educated.

Went to top unis, had stellar graduate / professional careers until the female at 28 becomes a full time SAHP and runs the family calmly and efficiently like a mini corporate start up.

Quietly confident in their gentle and considered parenting approach.

Not grasping, socially anxious or aspirational as they know they will all be fine as they are all shored up financially through the generations.

Careful and comfortable with money, nothing branded or “luxury” - don’t over stretch themselves. Prioritise private education over property, cars, holidays.

Holiday inland in Italy or France never Spain or Turkey.

Theatre at the National or Royal Court - never a musical.

Aren't fire pits on the out?

Their offspring, Leo or Tabby doing a years internship in central London in the arts, with you paying for their studio flat rent or house share.

These internships are only available to middle class kids as Working class kids can't afford to work and live without pay in any city, let alone London.

The MC's are great are in my village, run the committees, church activities, running groups, community gardening etc - without them nothing would happen.

Agree. And I'd add Finisterre to the MC roster.

Not grasping... as they know they will all be fine as they are all shored up financially through the generations.

Not grasping? This would mean that none of the current Tory cabinet are MC/UMC, which is clearly bollocks.

The well off can be among the most grasping around IMO! Grubbing around for legal tax dodge and ways to inflate their investment values.

Just one comes to mind, BBC Radio 4 is the default channel played in the kitchen

@RunSeaSurf - agreed with Radio 4 - I do have this myself but DP's have this more, Woman's Hour, The Archers etc. I think they would grudgingly admit to being middle class.

@CompoundV it’s really not ‘class’ that’s the issue. As a foreigner who has worked in these sorts of places.
it’s a different way of thinking.
Politics, ‘educated’ TV shows, sustainability, the stock market, workout routines. global happenings are talked about with a fair bit of knowledge, especially because at least someone in the conversation will have personal connections to the place.

Having mentored plenty of graduates I’d say that ‘WC’ students don’t know how competitive it is. They have PT jobs, a degree, and think that’s enough for an edge.
For very competitive fields like ‘high’ finance, magic circle law firms … you need to have bucketloads of relevant experience. The ‘MC’ /competitive international kids are applying for spring weeks, summer internships, cold emailing startups etc. They have probably also been president of a uni society, organised a large charity event, or something of that sort.

WC students go to the career office in 3rd year, or after graduation. By which point it’s too late.

I disagree with this definition, otherwise all pensioners and SAHP would be middle class when that isn’t the case. Plus isn’t there any distinction between people whose only income is from working and those who have additional income streams (eg investments, property) even if it’s not enough to give up work? Or for example those that could give up work for a while (my employer offers a year unpaid career break) but not permanently?

Would be upper class that should say, or whatever you regard as not working class.

We've noticed that while private education is dwindling among our set, home educating since/following lockdown has been on a sharp rise, supplemented with tutors and so on.

Also to add this is for somewhat ‘meritocratic’ professions.
i don’t know about things like the arts but that’s probably even bigger gaps. At least finance, law and tech are all paid internships! if you can’t afford to work for free in journalism etc you’re probably screwed

DFOD - I fear I may be middle class. Used to love going to Royal Court (but have been to musicals).

Have holidayed inland in both France/Italy and also Turkey.

Will add to the list:

coffee pods/French press cafetieres or those stovepot coffee pots
cheese - preferably Waitrose/specialist cheese shop variety
delicatessens
Waterstones
art galleries
choral recitals
Church's shoes

The Archers has a nice balance of characters, and my favourite are not middle class. I think you're right, however.

Working class I’m afraid. You can big it up and play around with it as much as you like but if you work, you’re working class.

Any other main MC identifiers I missed?

Being obsessed with class is the main one.

I’m at the coast so , yes, it’s in the open sea all through the year. They must be mad, haha.

if you work you’re working class? Better break that to the royal family…

I nearly fell off my chair when I read that Lurpak is over four quid! I was like; '... but Isigny Ste-Mère (unpasteurised salted butter from Waitrose, natch) doesn't even cost that...!'. Then realised you're talking about those half-kilo tubs of spreadable Lurpak.

Fancy butter is massively, hugely important to me - it's comfort AND luxury in one handy foil-wrapped packet. I'm working class all the way and the fact I can now (just about) afford fancy butter is one of the tiny markers of having gone some way to transcending my humble beginnings. Every time I slather that French bitch on a crumpet, I'm like; '.... if they could see me in the free school meals queue now....'.

I'm only half-joking but, in my defence, I have just had a can of baked beans with little sausages in for my lunch so, y'know, I'm still Jenny from the block.

@ComputerQueen - WC also have workout routines, think Mr Motivator, Jane Fonda etc. For me, MC will be all about Davina/Jillian Michaels etc, WC will be more Mr Motivator, Joe Wicks.

TV watching - WC - generally ITV and Sky. MC - generally BBC1, 2, BBC4, Netflix. magazines for TV - MC Radio Times, WC TV Times. Magazines generally - MC Vogue/Elle/Prima. WC - Take a Break, OK!

There is a very funny series on TikTok called Werner Herzog’s Sad Beige Clothes and Sad Beige Toys for Sad Beige Children which skewers this trend very effectively.

Lowers Middle Class is anyone about to lose their shit when they find out Primark have been selling Dryrobe equivalents for £35

Lidl or Aldi are also going to be selling a canvas bell tent too, so that one is also no longer going to be a marker.

I used to be MC but school fees have gone up a bit so I no longer get a Waitrose delivery, and instead actually have to visit Lidl. I guess that means I am no longer welcome in The MC club.

The problem in a capitalist society, is that any commodity associated with Middle Class becomes aspirational and therefore enterprising manufacturers find a way to make the same thing more cheaply. Perhaps a rule of thumb is, if you can buy it at Primark, Home Bargains, or the Pound Shop it is no longer a marker. See also grey, grey or grey, and inspirational quote frames.

😂

Riding a bike. Absolute scenes on a thread suggesting cost cutting. Scenes, I tell you!