To think that it's not a crime to be middle class?

[upsylazy]

I consider myself middle class (there, I've said it) and am a bit concerned at the current tendency to use it as a term of abuse eg "you're so middle class" with "white middle class" being a euphemism for a smug arsehole. I would definitely consider myself lower middle class, I don't live in a big house, have a cleaner or au pair and my DCs don't have stupid names. I am not heavily into organic food (too expensive) and have been known to go to (gasp) McDonalds. However, i still feel a twinge of guilt at being middle class. Hopefully, this is not a national phenomena but I have recently noted a trend among a small group of (upper) middle class women to ditch the Boden and Monsoon for Primark gear and start talking in a mock Saarrrff London accent. This seems to be taking things a step too far and is just inverted snobbery.

KatieScarlett - I would say you were definitely Middle class

Ah, but (rolls drum) I own and proudly wear.... Ugg Kensingtons....

Therefore I am a working class chav, innit?

Woolly liberal, surely, Katie?

Very middle class.

Of course it's a crime to be middle-class. Because middle-class means having a decent lifestyle and that must have been gifted by the fairies, not earned by good honest sweat. And middle-class means elbowing your way to the front, having 'standards', and being judgemental about other people's lack of standards... and that kind of moral superiority simply won't do! And once you're stamped 'middle-class' you're utterly, utterly BORING!... and your children will turn to drink and drugs to escape you.

Life-sentence, I'd say...

I don't have many standards but DH and Ithe kids are turning to drink and drugs, shit.......

I love love LOVE it that on this thread we have found out how to identify someone's class?background by asking one simple question:

courgettes: do you know what one is? and
you buy and eat them regularly?

THE COURGETTE TEST

could courgettes be the new Pombears???

I think it is a crime.All that angst about who thinks what of you and the endless keeping up with the jones's

The courgette thing is getting stupid - courgettes appeared on the shelves of international 'supermarkets' decades before Tesco put them on their shelves or HFW started fussing over them.

They are eaten in really poor countries in vast quantities (think veg cous cous, med courgette salad) as are fennels, aubergines etc

Purple sprouting broccoli on the other hand .....

oh you are so

Dh and I were born working class. With his earnings, education and job now, we might now officially qualify as middleclass - though who decides these things? Will always feel and identify as working class though.

I earn a decent wage, live in a nice house, have a gardener and someone to do my ironing. We like designer clothes and have 3 holidays a year (places like Abu Dhabi).

But there is no way I would class myself as middle class. I am a single Mum who is common as muck, down to earth and am def. working class and proud of it.

Please don't shout at me for eating courgettes!

I'm excited by the use of the courgette as a class identifier, but what does it mean if you never buy them but you DO grow them?

''I have long had my own classifications which are:

POSH

ORDINARY PUNTERS

SCRUFF

It is easy to fit people into these categories. About 95% of us are ordinary punter''

I like Granny23's classification the best :)

Lucy88: You would be described by people who earn less than you but still look down on you as 'nouveau riche'. Don't let it bother you.

But Abu Dhabi? For holidays - really??? I have to go there for work a lot and would never have considered it as a holiday destination - is there anything there other than office blocks and cheesy hotels? I must be missing something...

"I think the courgette is the signifier of middleclass." LOL!

So working class don't know what a courgette is.

Middle class, know, grow and eat them.

What do the upper class do with courgettes, use them as a sex aid?

Ahhhh LeQueen, you see that is indeed the problem.

I grew up in a council house, so did DH. Both sets of parents blue-collar workers (the ancient symbol of middle class-ness).

Both sets of parents moved on to buy their council houses, move up into management in their chosen 'careers' (read that as 'jobs') started having holidays 'abroad' and even managed to buy new cars. Crikey, I had the shock of my life when my dad rolled up in a car that was all one colour

They are now seen as Middle Class, as are we..due to jobs/careers, owning houses, etc etc. I still feel working class, but of course I couldn't possibly be seen as that nowadays.

The only think that really grinds my gears is hearing the likes of guests on Jeremy Kyle being described as working class. They aren't, they are just dossers

Got it in one, Totem!

But now I'm because both my grandfathers (one a joiner, the other a farrier) used to grow and eat courgettes.

I think there is a difference regarding the courgette issue.

If they call them Zucchini they are posher than posh.

My grandad (a labourer) used to grow them too. He called them 'little funny cucumber things' that's ok then

sparkle, I'm shocked.

Zucchini/Courgette can be a nationality thing.

Aussies & US use the Italian name, zucchini.

British use the French name for them.

I agree Totem, I know Aussies & Americans use 'Zucchini'

Which is why when British people use the term I kind of feel like they are being a bit posh..or maybe gasp a lil bit pretentious :)