Affluence and Class - Linked?

[deviladvocate]

Prompted by thread in chat regarding being middle class, I was startled at how many posters were offended by the suggestion that being middle class was defined by income.

AIBU to think that affluence and class are inextricably linked? Doesn't being able to move beyond simply providing food and shelter for your family mean that you become middle class - by virtue of being able to focus on the nice-to haves and not just on the essentials?

I think formally class used to be defined by job/profession. Seems to be about how you or others perceive you. And in part that's because, quite rightly, officialdom doesn't define people according to class. And class is seen as fluid and changeable.

No, class is better defined by attitude and ways of thinking I reckon.
A good example might be that a lot of celebrities/WAGS/TOWIE wannabes could never be described as middle class even though they have money, 4x4, a nice house and get Ocado delivered.

Educational level often defines class.

Being affluent makes you middle class? Two words - Katie Price.

I'd say it's occupation, rather than income. For example, most vicars are definitely middle class, but their pay is minuscule.

I'd say educational level and upbringing. I know some high earning salespeople who left school after their GCSEs and no stretch of the imagination could call them middle class, even though they earn enough to buy ponies etc...

Agree completely with stickyghost. I live near a part of Cheshire that is v v affluent richest part of the country outside London but is populated by rich chavs, to put it crudely (footballers and their wives) and working class done good e.g. builders,property developers and the like. Certainly not middle class, or particularly educated.

OTOH, I know quite a few low earners who could not possibly be considered working class, as they're just too, well I cant really word it without possibly offending people [hgrin] Sufficient to say, being poor doesnt make you common, being rich doesnt make you classy.
Not that I think the class system exists nowerdays to the extent that it used to, its much less rigid (?) [hsmile]

I wonder if having lots of money has made Ryan Giggs and his wife middle class or just classy!

I think it used to be income, education and occupation but these days the income part is becoming less relevant - as others have said, there are rich chavs (as Katie Price admitted the other day!) and of course the nouveau poor ...

No not linked at all.

Accent is another give away.

My Dad is from an academic upper middle class background, he has a PhD and he's a vicar. Growing up we were poor as the proverbial church mice

Arguing with DH now about what class we are [hgrin]

I don't understand the phrase and I've seen it twice today, " working class done good".

Done good? As opposed to? Why "good"?

New money tends to try and buy 'class' - Eg.I think it was Robbie Savage on Strictly - his children arrived in lovely prep school uniforms. You won't ever acquire the 'class' yourself but each generation tries to push the following one up the scale a bit.

Then you factor in 'marrying up' and 'marrying beneath yourself' !

Those attitudes do still persist.

If i were to talk about someones class (or lack of it) it would be regarding the way they conduct themselves.

i'm from staffordshire, my DH is from a particularly notorious council estate in Walsall. Many of the people from his estate are now rather well off however no amount of designer clothes, nice clothes of gold will make them middle class- they however dont seem to see this!

I really don't know what makes a person middle class.

I just know that I am not.

I am degree educated.
I am professional.
I am very comfortable financially.
I listen to radio four, read the broadsheets, go to the theatre at least once per month.
I live in a period property with my horses, chickens and dogs.
My DC attend independent school.

But I am not middle class.

Hmmm....the attitude of:

Doesn't matter how well you do monetarily/professionally, I'll always find a way to look down on you. There will always be a secret handshake/criterion I know about that you don't. And my Great Granny was lady of the bed chamber to some half wit aristo that ended up in the Tower. But still.

Not too attractive is it?

having said that: yes I do recoil from the mums in the jimmy choo hunter wellingtons and fake boobs and 90K Land Rover cars who go out for coffee mornings and regale each other with their recent purchases. I know they feel sorry for me "having to go out to work" and who they think is working class for sure. Doesn't matter where I've been to school.

I'm in TOWIE country.

sorry that was meant to be designer clothes, nice cars or gold