to think that "middle class" has become a derogatory term

[hijk]

and actually, most people aren't actually part of any class, really, they are just individuals who make their own way in the world.

Its easier to be around people who just take you for you, and do not judge you on an accent.

I am from a middle class background yet have passionately pursued a 'working class' career as a cleaning business owner.

I cannot tell you why, my parents were horrified, my daughter wanted nothing more than to go to uni and get a profession and my son wants to join the navy and yet although I am qualified as an executive PA all I ever gave my heart to was the cleaning industry.

I am also a landlord of several properties and have been involved in property development in the past but these things more for a pension than anything else so I can give all of my heart to my cleaning business!

I am not the only cleaning business owner with roots considered 'too posh' it seems rather a common thing within the industry but hey - you love what you love! It's a great industry to be art of and you can earn great money eventually but it is traditionally a 'working class' occupation!

I don't understand where I stand in this thing either!?

Not sure I care!

I'd agree with Philoslothy, it's hard to work in a predominantly middle class profession when you're from the lower classes. You simply don't have the same worldview and can barely relate to each other, you have little in common. That can affect your ability to communicate and work in teams. It can actually affect your ability to find work as the person who gets the job is frequently the person who gets on best with the recruiter at interview. I also married a fellow outside-of-original-social-classite, we have lots in common!

"I am from a middle class background yet have passionately pursued a 'working class' career as a cleaning business owner"

that is interesting balls, as my bro does the same job but is convinced that it puts him firmly in the upper middle classes.

Surely the point is that you are in management and own/manage the means of production? Not things the working classes traditionally ever did. The fact that it's cleaning is irrelevant. The owner of Duchy Originals is not a grocer. He's a royal.

I remember the first time I became fully aware of the implications that class had an individual's opportunities.

I was eighteen and had recently started work at a firm of estate agents/surveyors in a small market town and was asked to assist with recruitment of two receptionists/administrators for a new branch opening in the town next door.

I was very young and naive and only worked on Saturday's carrying out accompanied viewings. It was my job to greet the candidate, chat, offer drinks and then take them through to the meeting room.

When the interviews had ended, I was called into the meeting room and the interviewees had the CVs of the girls, together with polaroid photo's they'd taken, pinned up on the white board.

Next to each girl's picture/CV was one of the following descriptions:

-very smart
-good
-common
-low class

This was in the 1980s. It still makes me sad and also puts me in mind of how they grade horses too.

Being the wrong side of the class divide can help. I am sure that I secured a place at my university because I ticked the working class box and that has opened doors for me ever since.

Philoslothy, indeed. I've sat in a meeting reviewing CVs and seen one rejected on the grounds of "why would an Old Etonian want to work here?". This was a start-up IT company.

Balls, I get where you're coming from as the cleaning industry is not considered one of the professions, but since when does "a cleaning business owner" qualify as a working class career? Surely the term "owner" precludes that?

So we are saying now that anyone who is self-employed is MC?

More and more this just shows that there is no middle class anymore. It's just peope working in jobs, whatever job they can get that pays the bills they need to pay. Plus a jobless underclass, and an elite, aka the 1%.