to be suprised at how often 'class' comes up on MN?

[LeoniPoni]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that people who are 'class' aware are snobs or anything, I've just not come across so many conversations centred on it before.

I've never really had an opinion on the class system in this country since I've always had the vague idea that it was mostly a thing of the past. I thought it may be that there are people who are upper class/aristocrats - don't have to work because of inherited money, middle class/working class - people who have to work to get by (whether this is a doctor or a shop assistant) and then lower class - people who can't/don't work and can't support themselves.

This is the first time I've ever really actively gathered my thoughts on it though so I know it's bound to be a flawed way of thinking.

I've just never been made so aware of 'class' as I have been in the last few months that I've been on Mumsnet. It seems to crop up so often. Whether breasfeeding is middle class. Whether Boden is middle class. Whether saying 'hiya' is lower class.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just wondering if it's because of my age (I'm 24) or the fact I'm from a 'working class' background or is it just random that I've not come across (or maybe just not noticed) class divide?

It's the ones that make out they're a class when they're really not....strange.

To me, class doesn't matter and I'm 25 and 'working class' also :P

I think it's all meant tongue in cheek really.

I think it's becasue you wouldn't necessarily speak about it in real life.

However, there is usually an understanding of class. For example knowing what "sort" of people live in various parts of town/ particular villages, etc.

For example, a lot can be said with the phrase "she's from an old * family" (* being the name of a small town nearby)

you tend to understand what type of attitude you might be coming across.

YANBU - I don't get it either. Never crops up in RL conversations.

class permeates all aspects of life,no wonder its discussed on mn

YABU. Class is the British obsession - rightly or wrongly, it comes up everywhere. MN is just a snapshot of what everyone else is like.

op you are class conscious by applying label working class. i was told on mn i am lower class because i say uni, and not university

nice ham
choice of buggy
baby name
...all mn indicator of class in planet mn

It crops up all the time amongst the mother of my sons classmates. I can't really figure out why.

I hear those that slag off the boden-wearing mums (quite middle-class in themselves really since class is the topic here so I don't really get it) and then those that slag off the ugg-wearing DD of those really wealthy mums who wouldn't deign to wear boden.

It's all pathetic and makes me angry quite frankly.

I judge a person on how they treat me and my family and I don't care where your're from, how many degrees you have and if you shop at Waitrose or rush into Tesco's when the cheap deals get put out.

When you use an online forum then context tends to need to be explained. One gathers a lot of information in RL exchanges, so when relaying stuff here then class descriptors come into it because the reader doesn't have the benefit of face to face experience.

One is aware of 'class' or 'type' due to visual and other clues that are available when experiencing things first hand. Whether you conclude such everyday judgements are broadly defining class is another matter but we all use and indeed fit social stereotypes in many ways.

Wow I had no idea hiya was lower class! You are right class is big on mumsnet it's true. It's because when you meet a real person, you can tell if they are like you or not, when you meet online you cannot and Boden/fruitshoots/Gregs etc is often used to find or identify a clan so to speak.

I don't think I have explained myself well, sorry.

X-posts with Hobgoblin (and she explained it better)

Yeah Scottishmummy I suppose I am class conscious now! I was just trying to think why it had never really come up before and thought it might be because of my own class! Which I'm thinking is working class since me and my family have to work to get by.

Is there a some definitive way of dividing people into classes that people use? Is it the area that they live? Or jobs they do? Or is it a number of factors?

The whole thing boggles my mind!

How common.

So can someone give me a snapshot example of each class? i.e. clothing type, words used, income bracket, life stlye choices/desires/aspirations? (as a non British person I have no idea. I need to work out where I am and it would clarify so many MN posts!)

quite vulgar

nice ham?

if you have to ask you are common

pedlars anyone?

class permeates everything,at school the posher kids/scheme weans frisson.how groups align themselves.tp classify yourself working class you have noticed it.you ascribe a label and attributes to yourself.thats not wrong at all.but you arent impervious to it

middle class = hp sauce in cupboard
working class = hp sauce on table
very working class = hp sauce on toast

Theochris, I'm not so sure! Your explanation is neater!

Y'know what I think has changed regarding class...is that although classes still exist, we can now fit into several at a time due to social mobility. Nouveau Riche has to be the new class. It's the grey area of social class. And what about adding the 'credit card class'? Money can never put you up with aristocracy but it does a good job of superficially blending and merging the classes. I could happily live quite nicely as one of the upper classes for a few months at least if I had a platinum card. I can almost bring back my close to RP accent of public school and pony club days, I can play tennis and lacrosse and know my cutlery... I'm sure I could fake a whole other class for some time.

It is common, to use the word common in this context (so I'm told)

invisibleink - if your children write thank you letters or cards for their birthday/Xmas presents and if you yourself do so after attending a dinner party, you're middle-class.

haha tethersend,appers i am two of your 3 classes