what does Middle Class mean?

[fluffybutt]

I am slightly suprised at the amount of reference to Class, on MN. So I was just wondering, what determines ones class?.

or a kept man!

RobF - why do you say the table is "wrong"? It doesn't say anything about the relative income of the different categories, so it doesn't matter whether C2 jobs pay more or less than those in the C1 category.

I think people are deluding themselves if they think class doesn't exist or doesn't matter or isn't primarily about income. In this country:

• the poorest 20% of households had an average income of £4,800 before taxes and benefits in 2009/10. It's only thanks to benefits, currently being hacked back like there's no tomorrow, that their income approached something more liveable: £15,100
• the richest 20% of households had an average income of £78k pre-tax and benefits and £58k post-tax and benefits.
• the richest 1% of individuals earned £117k pre-tax in 2004/05. By 07/08, that had risen to £149k
• by contrast, the poorest 1% of individuals earned £5k pre-tax in 04/05, which had gone up to £5.6k by 07/08
• you can expect to live literally decades longer if you are a rich person living in, say, Chelsea than if you are a poor person living in, say, Longsight

Only the MC care about class

WC and UC don't give a toss

"RobF - why do you say the table is "wrong"? It doesn't say anything about the relative income of the different categories, so it doesn't matter whether C2 jobs pay more or less than those in the C1 category."
The income of the other categories would decrease from top to bottom though. Just C1 and C2 are wrong, they should be reversed.

gawd that doesnt work - all the pensioners I know are richer than me. I work two jobs- 1 administrative and 1 as a consultant.dh works PT as a IT developer and does child care. we grow our own food and live in a bungalow. My parents are UMC and frightfully posh. My PIL are teachers. I shop in the Boden sale and Primark.
isnt everyone a class mongrel these days?

But the whole point is, RobF, social class isn't about salary or income.

The table isn't wrong or right, but it is what advertisers and others use to target their audience.

you can expect to live literally decades longer if you are a rich person living in, say, Chelsea than if you are a poor person living in, say, Longsight

If I had to live in Longsight I think I'd be happy with that scenario...:)

perhaps it mean that grid doesn't take into account that we are all a bit of everything and cannot be pigeon-holed any more < hopeful> You cant talk about class without taking aspirations and expectations into consideration.

colditz has it all - that list should have its own tab at teh top of mumsnet.

I think the long COLDITZ post is a classic

Middle class in crude terms. A posher talker. Bigger car. Semi or detatched house. Professional job. 45 grand a year, minimum (there are always exceptions)

what if you like radio 4 but wear miniskirts on teh school run?

It means you drink wine and eat cheese.

Never missing an episode of the Archers.

slhilly

• Class does matter but it isn't measured by income.

• Income and inequality between the richest and poorest does matter a great deal.

According to colditz I am dangerously middle class. Oh dear.

It means living in a permanent limbo land of fear and self loathing terrified you might not be good enough

I am a walking dichotomy of class analysis.

Brought up on sink estate...many member sof my family in the UC...

Yet I have a degree, am a writer, married to lawyer, have dogs and chickens and children in independent school.

I don't wear mini skirts but adore expensive cars. I bake my own bread and have an aga...but at xmas we buy three tins of Roses and wolf the lot.

I love poetry and theatre and ballet and art. But I'm also fond of bracelets from Tiffanys and like to have a bit of a tan.

Go figure...

wineandcheese has it I reckon.

Radio 4 is ok for science-y or news stuff; ie background noise with bearable voices. But I have to turn it off when the Archers comes on. And most of the terrible plays.

Do it, sticky my list!!!

noddy I think you're right...which is why I'm afraid of nowt and think I'm pretty bloody cool. I'm WC at heart, innit?