Differences between wc & mc childhoods these days?

[Christmascarolle]

In response to the thread about the op feeling she missed out on a lot of mc activities during her childhood.
How much has changed & has the wc/mc childhood gap closed somewhat?
I can imagine the gap between mc & umc is far greater than wc & mc.

Just to add are the parenting styles very different too nowadays?

Bumping as I found the original thread fascinating 😊

I have no idea what mc or wc childhoods are....

I would say the working classes spend more money on actual items, gadets, clothes and toys for their kids and the middle classes spend more money on holidays, experiences, days out and extra curricular activities.

Working class kids probably have more freedom and a more relaxed childhood including playing outside unless they happen to live in a particularly rough area.

I would say the gap between MC and WC children is even wider now. They are much more poorer.

For me it would seem the activities differ greatly eg locally wc kids are very involved in football both at club level & playing out with friends. Mc more likely to do music & practice instruments widely.
Travel has changed greatly from the 80s & the vast majority of the wc & mc we know get away to the sun or abroad once a year
(Also just to clarify some of the wc we are friends with are far wealthier than our mc friends & acquaintances)

Isn't it a little more complicated than that? I was a wc child in the 70s, but that was in the middle of a recession, mass unemployment and power cuts, etc. But, if I had been WC in the 80s in the middle of an economic boom, the comparison is economic climate, not wc vs mc?

So you’re asking for people to use stereotypes and make sweeping generalisations then? Seems a particularly unpleasant topic for a post.

I don't necessarily agree about the football/music thing, we're mc and DS plays for a local football club. Neither of my DC learn a musical instrument yet. I think parents nowadays are more likely to nurture their children's interests and talents, rather than making them do something just because it's the "done" thing.

@PinkyU do you think that about the whole field of sociology?

My observation is that wc childhoods are much more sedentary than in the past, less playing freely outside and more screen time. If kids go out without their parents these days it's usually to organised activities (as opposed to just playing out) and mc families have more resources to support that.

Diet and exercise.

Do I think that homogenising then discussing any group in society using stereotypes is unhelpful and often damaging, yes I do, don’t you?

So I can only comment on a small section I know, which is that around half of my friends who have their kids at private school are “MC” in that they are doctors, lawyers, accountants etc and the other half (also at private school) are generally richer but from traditionally WC professions such as builders The difference I see is really only that the WC extra curriculars tend to be sports based whereas the MC tend to be music, debating, and MC sports like tennis. Tutoring is at similar levels across the groups.
In general I would say that the WC parents tend to have a non working mum (because the families are richer) so have more free time, whereas the MC are more structured because they’re organising around both parents working.
But these are an unusual WC group as they are rich WC- although still interesting that they tend to favour active pursuits over the intellectual ones.

Or the working class does not enough money to do anything other than get by. It’s not all working class = designer stuff. But I agree that it’s easier to buy 'things' here and there as opposed to (saving up) for one expensive purchase - ie holiday.

Class is often a state of mind as much as the other criteria. Mumsnet is not complete without a weekly class bashing debate to try to put down those that are considered to be lower class. Those with actual class don't do that.

How are you defining working class and middle class?

I'm not defining it, I'm simply starting a discussion based on a thread currently active in chat based on a wc childhood & the op wanted the trappings of a mc childhood. I was simply wondering if the gap has now closed & both childhoods are similar nowadays.

But it’s impossible to debate if everyone is talking at cross purposes.

My profession, education and current income would place me as middle class but my background is solidly working class. Some people speak about working class and go on to describe people who are workless.

You’ve spoken about working class people you know who are more wealthy than middle class people you know, so what are those classifications based on?

@Jellycatspyjamas the rich wc I know, grew up with dh & I in our estate. We were all very similar. But they (as DH did) have their own businesses or are self employed plumbers, carpenters & electrical contractors. They can literally name their price. Have their dc at private schools, three holidays a year etc. But are still very proud & tied to their working class roots & locality.

This. These threads always go the same way, with those who describe themselves as middle class having a lot to say about working class people that is unrecognisable to people who are actually from a working class background.

Eg they'll say something like 'most people who visit National Trust places are middle class' based on nothing more than the people they see there not wearing tracksuits, bellowing at their DC or arriving in a white Range Rover so they assume that they're middle class.

A lot of the things that were described in the other thread weren't expensive (many museums, country parks etc are free, books can be from the library/charity shop/little free library, NT family pass is about £10 pm) and were generally accessible to anyone who wanted to do them and are things done/enjoyed by both MC and WC people equally.

As an Irish person I cannot understand this obsession with 'class' . Blatant stereotyping and can be quite insulting .
And bascially what it comes down to is a simple ' I think I am better than you ' .
You would never an Irish person say ' I am middle class' or whatever . You would be laughed out of it .
People are people , stop trying to create divisions.

Not sure where the extra curricular football lessons as wc has come from. That's a weird statement. My DC7 plays football, martial arts and will hopefully at some point attempt to learn a musical instrument if he chooses to and maybe rugby, tennis etc. I think it's healthy to experience a variety of things

We also go to the museum, plays, the park after school, markets, long walks. He enjoys the PlayStation a little too much, that's my only gripe, but can understand it can be great for cognitive development in small doses. My son is autistic and has helped greatly with this. No idea what class I am. Just a run of the mill average person

I don't think you can really say. Because 'working class' people nowadays have money sometimes

I come from a definite working class background. I am originally from London and lived in a council flat

I did a lot of horse riding! And dancing. In fairness I never learned any instruments etc but I did like watching ballet

My own DC is certainly working class. She does gymnastics and horse riding, and swims

You can't really put people into a class anymore because virtually every sport is open to all walks of life now... except skiing I suppose

Forgot to add, I am not one of the working classes with money either

Ok stereotypes but round here:
Football vs Rugby
Own pony and weekly lessons vs helping out at the yard
Comprehensive vs grammar school
Gymnastics or musical theatre vs ballet lessons
National trust vs Merlin pass
Take out sushi vs KFC