AIBU?
fluffybutt · 24/05/2011 15:52
Fabbychic, I don't understand it either. I consider myself an Ok, hard working person, with morals. At the moment OK financially. Middle Class? If I for what ever reason fell on financial hardship, had to claim benefits etc, would I then become a lower class?
Pendeen · 24/05/2011 16:05
I think one way to consider "class" is that it is more about how other people categorise someone rather than an individual's opinion of themself.
First impressions e.g. - accent, clothes, general appearance etc. which might then be modified when they learn a little more about someone: job, home, pastimes, family, education and so on.
AMumInScotland · 24/05/2011 16:09
TBH MN is the only place where I've found people dividing themselves up into these categories - anyone who actually studies demographics recognises the traditional working/middle/upper as being meaningless, partly because people are more varied these days, but also because nobody agrees what the definitions are.
Here it seems to be a way of saying "us and them" from either side!
Tortu · 24/05/2011 16:14
Blimey MN is the most middleclass place I've ever been (only started looking at it a couple of weeks ago). As a teacher who has always taught in quite deprived areas I have a complete, open-mouthed fascination with the Education area of this site. I've never met parents like you. In fact, I never really meet parents TBH, as they can't be bothered to come in unless it's to fight their child's exclusion.
In my opinion, it's all about education and not just the institutions you've been to. Yes, those are part of the definition, but honestly, most of my students' parents couldn't tell you who the PM was, or point to Scotland on the map. As most of the parents aren't in formal employment they couldn't be classified as working class, but I'd definitely say they were 'lower class' just in terms of expectations and awareness of the world. My kids' aspirations are so low it terrifies me.
colditz · 24/05/2011 16:14
It means someone who's posher than you, but not so posh they won't talk to you.
It means flat shoes for the school run - but NOT white trainers.
It means not putting your daughter in bright pink velour, no matter how much she may beg.
It means not shaving your son's head.
It means starting and finishing your words with no slurring (sober) or glottal stops.
It means parenting more by guidance than by instinct.
It means breastfeeding, or at least toturing yourself for not breastfeeding.
It means not wearing short skirts unless your legs are practically perfect.
It means owning a house, or paying higher than average private rent - not because you can necessarily afford that, but because this is the best catchent area.
It means that oven chips are a quick tea for after an afterschool club - and in your head, you don't really count them as cooking.
It means you'll avoid extra cheap sausages like the plague, rather than picking up three packs and shouting "Let's have a barbeque!!!"
It means buying second hand clothes and leather shoes, instead of brand new clothes and plastic trainers.
It means using sunblock, even if it makes you feel sticky.
And most of all, it means not bleaching the top half of your hair blonde and dying the underneath bit black.
Insomnia11 · 24/05/2011 16:17
I am a lawyer and listen to Radio 4. I don't think I could be anything other than middle class these days. :) I'm a B on here and so is DH.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRS_social_grade
Definitely would say my background is working class or lower middle class though. Parents' jobs were C1/D.
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