Could you please give me some examples of inverted snobbery? (British context)

[btfly2]

What exactly does it mean?? I think I have an idea but still don't get the meaning or purpose for that...

[RiverTam]

Pedant, no, that's not inverted snobbery.

Boink I'm glad youve haven't felt hurt by inverted snobbery. Good for you. But I was 18, with my first boyfriend, very sheltered, shy and insecure. His family, probably very gently, mocked my accent (and there is just no way I would ever have mocked theirs, ever, that would have been so rude and snobbish) for years, and other odd things that might be perceived as MC. They were nice enough people but it hurt me for years. Not loads, but I certainly haven't forgotten. I'm not very assertive, and they knew that. I don't think they ever realised how rude they were being, I was just expected to take it.

[Dapplegrey1]

"It isn't dangerous to society because those who hold the power are not threatened by those who don't. "
It may not be dangerous to society but it's very unpleasant for a child who is being bullied about his background and could do lasting damage.
Maybe those bullying him think he deserves it because he's posh.

People can be born middle class and end up not well off.

I thought one of the arguments for comprehensive education for all is that children of all backgrounds get to mix together. However if the 'posh' ones get bullied then no wonder they do as Boink suggests and find a school that is a better fit eg one where most of the children are mc.

[scaryclown]

1.deliberately doing your job badly because doing it well is getting above yourself

1. not wearing ladidah sunscreen when you are doing jobs outside that mean you blister ypur ears to scabs every summer
   

3.ditto ppe and respiration protection and thinking yourself a real man because you have silicosis and not a pufter weaklink like the suits

1. not promoting the best person for the job and having business suffer because 'why should they have the job just because they are posh'
   
2. only helping the rhicky working class kids and not the clever working class kids because 'theyve git ideas above their station.
   
3. actively pretending not to know stuff you do know just to not sound clever..which would be too posh for you
   

7.deliberately being bad with money to 'prove' you are just a salt of the earth character who lives hand to mouth
8.smoking to prove a class point about how posh people are oh so prissy abput themselves

1. not eating salad 'ladidah or rabbit food' because its what posh people do..and so increasing your risk of cancer and miserable/non existent retirement
   

10.deliberately not having a pension so you can gain status as a 'real' pensioner when you are i state only
11. doing a really hsrd job for low pay to 'prove' how 'real' you are and going on and on and on about it in the pub threatening to fight people you are 'paying for' when you pay no tax and get working tax credits.

etc etc etc... terrible for the economy and individuals but its rife..

[Wolpertinger]

Another typical example would be working class communities encouraging their own children not to apply for Oxbridge because 'you wouldn't fit in' 'it's full of toffs' 'we go to the university of life' and 'you only need two GCSEs to be earning a good wage at the factory' - then sneering at anyone who does go to university for being up themselves and knowing nothing about the real world or forgetting their roots.

Asking politicians at election time the price of a pint of milk and then mocking them for being out of touch when they don't know is an easy way to do this.

[BoinkAlongQuietly]

It's internalised classism that is being described here - this is internalised oppression based on the class system.

No different to sexism when a woman thinks she shouldn't pursue a "masculine" career i.e. Engineering, sciences, etc. - it's internalised sexism.

[Ginslinger]

I think there's a lot of ant-intellectualism in inverted snobbery - so if someone says that they're learning Mandarin there will be a chorus of "oooh get you' rather than people being interested.

[Wolpertinger]

Ginslinger I think you are right. My DH used to live in Germany - I remember meeting up with his friends and a new person had come along. We were all doctors, academics, bankers etc. He worked for a UK investment bank and had just moved out. We were talking about classical music and opera - he mentioned how lovely he was finding it to be able to talk about this openly as in Germany it was a popular interest. It was his main hobby and in London he either had to keep it quite or pretend he didn't know that much about it - and this working entirely in a supposedly elite career

[BoinkAlongQuietly]

Ginslinger I think there is an anti-intellectualism writ at large in our society.

Kidults and and glorification of ignorance as part of popular culture is not a class issue, it's a social issue at large.

[yolofish]

not quite on the level of the music buffs above! I talk posh, and years ago the DDs were at the village primary which was and still is not in the least bit posh. in the queue to drop them off at reception we were talking - someone wanted to buy some new cushions, and I said I'd seem some really nice cheap ones at Matalan in the colours she was after. "0oh, so what's cheap to you then - £10?" no, I said, they were about £2 each. to me that was an example of inverted snobbery, in that I speak nicely so it was assumed that I wouldnt have any experience of 'cheapness'.

[RiverTam]

Boink and Gin agree completely. And thus is surely one of the reasons why a lot of people still back grammars - they want their academic children to be able to study in an environment that is supportive of intellectual attainment. And whilst academically (ha!) I am against grammars, I can't blame individual parents for seeing them as a good environment for their DC.

[Doobigetta]

The idea that anyone working class is more "authentic" and "real" than anyone middle class- automatically more honest, trustworthy and generally a more valuable person.

[ClaudiaJean2016]

The idea that anyone working class is more "authentic" and "real" than anyone middle class- automatically more honest, trustworthy and generally a more valuable person.

This. And that achievements of middle class people mean less, or that people who have or whose parents have/had a lot of money can't have/have had any 'real' problems. It's like the achievements of middle class people are seen as inevitable instead of achievements and when the best is expected of you, you can either do what is considered inevitable, or you can be a disappointment. You're not allowed to have a difficult life if you've got money. If you do, then you're considered a whiner, entitled, and ungrateful. But someone with the exact same problems as you yet with less money is considered strong, determined, and an inspiration. Having money is nice, but having a degree paid for for you doesn't buy the work. The grades still have to be worked for. And money can't buy away medical (e.g. Mental Heath) problems.

I suppose I'm a bit bitter about this because I've been on the receiving end of nasty comments about me being weak and spoiled when I have talked about my mental health problems and how they have impacted me. I've had to work really hard to overcome those to achieve what I have, but I've been told on more than one occasion that my struggles aren't real because I have money.

[witsender]

Of course it is unpleasant to the individual child. However in theory that individual child will continue through life with the privilege that has brought on the mocking in the first place. With an accent or upbringing or schooling that will earn them a seat at the table, the table at which those without the above privilege will have to work harder to be at.

Whatever your individual viewpoint, we are still the remnants of a feudal society. So whilst the peasants mock the lords for their posh voices and tastes in the broader scheme of things they still have to run their forelocks at them.

Taking potshots upwards rarely has an effect, it is those in charge who get to make the decisions that shape our lives, so in my opinion on a societal level snobbery is more dangerous than inverse. In fact the latter probably plays into the hands of the former really, given that inverse snobbery tends to lead to a dip in intellectualism, thus making the plebeians even dimmer and giving more power to them up top...

[Muggins68]

When people stop being friendly with you after they have visited your house and seen that you are wealthier.
N

[witsender]

Tug forelocks, obviously.

[helpimitchy]

I went on a study day as part of my professional development last week and, I know it sounds pathetic, but I cried when I got home - got to talk with some lovely, intelligent and switched on people - I can't even remember the last time I interacted with people like that. It's so crushingly lonely at times.

[helpimitchy]

Are you joking witsender? I bloody wish I could find my 'privilege'.

Not all mc people are living on easy street you know.

[BoinkAlongQuietly]

helpimitchy I think you may be conflating your idea of MC with the idea of "privilege" here - there are so many divisive opinions on what constitutes MC here on MN - your life doesn't sound very privileged to me even though you consider yourself MC.

Privilege brings choices and agency where those with less privilege do not have such equality of opportunity. This is regardless of class in many instances but class is one area where privilege can be and is conferred.

[BoinkAlongQuietly]

helpimitchy you honestly have no intelligent people around you?

people who aren't MC can be switched on and intelligent too.

[DonaldStott]

I would say an inverted snob is, for example, a working class person, who would look down on other working class people as 'rough' or 'chavs', even though they are of the same social standing. They would never openly declare it, but would definitely think it - if that makes sense.

[helpimitchy]

Dh is intelligent.

I know that non mc people can be intelligent as well, it's just that I don't get to meet them. My area is very dull and non diverse.

[Muggins68]

Taking potshots upwards does have an effect on the individual that it was intended for. It's wrong to be biased against someone because you think they are more or less wealthy than you . It's hurtful to be on the receiving end of any snobery. It's not ok to take potshots at people that you think are better than you in some way.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

It's when 'middle class' is used as a term of abuse on MN.

[Autumnleaves105]

Me an Dh get this to a certain extent with our house. I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but both his parents died within 6 months of each other due to cancer. This was 6 years ago when he was 22. Subsequently he inherited the house and some savings and we have set up our family home here at the house. We now get comments about how lucky we are because we don't have a mortgage. While that is true, he doesn't have his parents and they do....?

[BMW6]

Easy. Tory Toff Scum.