What constitutes under class?

[Invalidusername88]

Just reading about working class on another thread. It got me thinking about the term under class? What does this mean?

Also what class would you identify yourself as if you had to?

Never heard the term under class.

I would consider myself brought up upper middle class but now lower middle due to lack of funds!

Whenever I’ve heard underclass referred to it means people who are chronically unemployed. A close relative works with this group. There are so many complex issues involved, often with multi-generational workless families.

I'd never call anyone under class. I expect it refers to people who perhaps don't work for whatever reason, live on benefits, take drugs and drink. Referring to them as "under class" because of some misguided superiority is vile.

I'm working class, probably at the lower end as I expect I look "common" to some people (I have over 50 tattoos) and I get universal credit to top up my wages.

I thought under class were those with no fixed address.

I wouldn’t use the term but this.

I am middle class, through and through.

Underclass are those at and below the poverty line. So unemployed, disabled, & underemployed. The class below working class.

Oh and criminals.

It’s a horrible term, from Victorian days.

I've heard the term "underclass" often. It means the poor and powerless, people who have little chance to improve their lives.

Most working-class people have a skill. Someone belonging to the underclass would only ever be able to get minimum-wage jobs and wouldn't have either the education or resources to get into training programmes to move up.

The reason it seems like a new word is because for decades in the 20th Century, no one had to be a member of the underclass. It was possible for most people to train for some kind of stable employment. I'm no expert but would expect that the last time there were enough people to form an underclass was in the Victorian era. Large numbers of unemployed people arrived in cities from the countryside when machines replaced them. They ended up in slums, living in the worst possible conditions.

It's shocking to think that many British people are living without hope, in grinding poverty today. So many have to live with mould. They're paying rents they can't possibly afford. They can't afford nutritious food and end up with preventable health problems. The life expectancy is lower.

An example would be the kids who hang around council estates and tend to get involved with knives and drugs, girls who get pregnant and leave school without qualifications or partners/parents who can support them.

So the homeless? No I don't think so!!

Only ever heard 'underclass' here on MN

Charles Murray coined the term and it means those dependent on the state, often with lone parents and inadequate socialisation, according to the new right. Of course others argue poverty is the driver not lack of values.

Er nope. That's not true

Channel 5 did quite a few programmes portraying this group negatively, benefits street, benefits Britain.

Underclass is a perjorative term, it is not a term I'd use.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/underclass

It’s from 1894, Sweden.

It’s quite a well known term in sociology, it means the very poor, long term unemployed, homeless, who by default wouldn’t be classed as working class. But for obvious reasons the term enacts an emotional response in many people.

@TrailingLoellia well it's not 1894 and I doubt that many of us are in Sweden!!!

Criminals is a loose description. They can have degrees or businesses.

Oh, I thought you were objecting to the other half of my post as you weren’t very specific. My mistake.

Underclass in its original meaning included those of the “underworld” which would essentially be criminals- gangs, gang bosses, brothels, thieves & fences.

The upper class/middle class crimes don’t count.

@MidnightOnceMore, "underclass" is often used sneeringly or dismissively (to blame victims of deeply unfair government policies). But it is not a pejorative term. It describes something real, being poor and powerless and having no hope of any better.

It's a very sad indictment of people in the 2000s who voted to create the underclass.

@MatthewsMumFromTikTok
See
https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/real-crime-victorian-underworld-criminals-burglars-murderers-underclass/

I've never heard the term.

Anyone that currently drives a white car.

Exception being a white Volvo estate from 1998.

Some of them were/are. Migrant/seasonal workers (including Travellers) were considered part of the underclass.

It’s really offensive and usually applies to some of the most vulnerable in society.
Technically, those with long term unemployment, unstable housing, and poor education and prospects. Often with comorbidities of disability, addiction and mental health problems.
Outcomes can include criminality and fractured family structures.
It’s a horrible term, and a sad state of affairs.

My mum was divorced, living in a council house, and on benefits when I grew up so I was the epitome of underclass. It's long term unemployed on benefits. Exceptions made for illness/ disability.

Under class? Maybe people use upper/middle/lower but underclass suggests a lack of humanity…