Why do some people feel the need to describe themselves as ‘middle class’?

[lottieandmia22]

I met a man who said

‘I am incredibly lucky. I’m a middle class, white, straight male which puts me at an advantage’

Frankly, this made my teeth itch. I thought ‘what a tosser’

Why do people feel the need to do this? I couldn’t care less which class I am.

No, thats not how mc works. That sounds more aristocracy. Who could afford not to work??

I have friends who feel the need to announce that they’re middle class/ white, middle class.

No idea why.

Well I like that argument Openup.

It will get all those who consider themselves middle class frothing that they could not possibly be working class and also supports the argument that lots of interests, activities, attitudes, education pathways etc are common to both the working and middle classes, rather than being confined to one or the other as many argue.

OP you have completely misinterpreted his comment. He wasn't bragging. Quite the opposite. If you don't like it when people talk about class at all that's fair enough, but it's unfair to say that he was boasting or positioning himself above anyone else when he wasn't. He was simply acknowledging that he has been born with some advantages that others aren't and that means he is lucky enough to be unaffected by some Tory policies.

At least he was recognising his privilege. That sounds like a good thing to me, not showing off.

I had a friend whose parents who went on about how working class they were all the time. They were both university lecturers, owned two homes in England and one abroad, and have recently bought their daughter a flat in London! 😂

Yes sorry my wtf face was in response to Bluntness and the comment 'In future date men who you perceive as working class and dislike the tories and you will not face the issue of having to spend an evening with someone who understands they are middle class' - which is clearly bonkers as conkers, whichever way you cut it.

YorkieDorkie - I did it. I got Precariat! I'm deprived :(

So the context was he was stating his opposition to the tories, a position which you share, but admitting that due to his own privilege he isn't adversely affected by their policies.

That's the position of most of mumsnet, including me. I have the luxury of not being shafted personally by the tories. Doesn't mean I like them.

Obviously you don't like this guy and are not obliged to give him any more head space. But of all the things to come to us to moan about, this one seems distinctly odd.

Off topic, but i dunno Morris, if you've ever used a state school or a gp or hospital or childrens' centre in the past 5 years, or have relatives who have, I'd say that we've all been personally shafted by the Tories!

Yes that's arguably the case. But I'm not in the direct firing line re benefits etc. Could all change of course.

if he was saying he'd had an abusive family or unhappy relationships with e.g. his sister, then he was probably trying not to whinge and be victim-y - instead say "Look, I'm ok, in the lottery of life I've done alright".

You definitely come across as someone who wouldn't like anyone saying they were MC, OP. To me his comment is one of the totally normal things I might hear around me in any daily conversation.

If I went on a date with someone who thought I was being smug talking aboir wider cultural factors and how I perceived myself to fit in them, I'd not go out with that person again.

But I do hang out with lefty middle class people, as a poster up thread said.

And I'm totally, totally MC. Not about money but about tastes, hobbies, cultural reference points, conversational topics...

Just can't help it. If I tried to pretend to be what I think working class or upper class might be like, I'd come across as a massive horrific awkward snob.

'If you don't like it when people talk about class at all'

Well I don't that's the point really. It exists but there is no need to talk about it. I accept I may have misinterpreted where he was coming from.

Well my tastes and hobbies interests are MC and I went to private school but I'm not MC

Which tastes, hobbies, cultural reference points and conversational topics are MC and what prevents such interests being partaken by WC people too?

It will get all those who consider themselves middle class frothing that they could not possibly be working class

And vice versa, all those who consider themselves wc and proud frothing that they are not middle class, even though they have a degree and earn a salary that labour would consider makes them "rich".

I really don't get all the angst about class and why folks give a shit. You are who you are. What does it change if you are middle or working? Nothing, you're still doing the same job, with the same earnings, living in the same house irrelevant of what label you apply.

If you want to define your class, go for it, call yourself anything you please, becayse it changes nothing in your life. Why people fall out with each other or despise somone who sees themselves as a given class I will never ever understand.

What I find interesting is the number of people who argue that class is absolutely defined, ie if you have a degree you are middle class, if you like football you are working class, that sort of thing.

Then someone comes along and argues that a degree educated, well paid person is still working class, if that is their background and their job, salary and net worth is never going to change that, ie the exact opposite.

Both points of view can't be true at the same time.

He is recognising the advatnages he has had and continues to have in life. I mean the Femist Chat area of this site hates men who cannot see this so the fact that he does is a bonus. But it sets your teeth on edge and makes him a tosser.

So men should both acknowledge and not acknowledge their privilege. Yeah, no wonder feminism is taking ages to achieve it's goals. Men are simultaneously allies and tossers for exactly the same thing.

Well my tastes and hobbies interests are MC and I went to private school but I'm not MC

Why not?

No-one would ever say I am middle class, despite having a degree and professional qualifications, liking reading, Radio 4 and hill walking and disliking all inclusive holidays and soaps and reality shows.

Because I have a Yorkshire accent and live in an ex LA house.
All my older male relatives were miners. Women were SAHPs, barmaids, shop assistants, cleaners, nursery workers.
I think John Lewis is overpriced and pretentious not a normal every day shop.
I don't see anything wrong with sitting in the front garden. My house is quite scruffy.
I hold my knife like a pen. I drink pints and when working in heavy industry I fit right in with the hairy arsed sweary manual workers.
I am the only member of my family to go to university.

According to the Quiz to determined your class, someone posted on page 1, I'm 'Elite'.

Apparently it's because we earn a lot of money, go to museums and the ballet and socialise with a wide range of people.

Well I may do all that but I was born in a council house, and my parents were working class. I love to eat fish and chips out of the paper, and speak with a very northern accent.

It's all bollocks in my opinion and the sooner this classification of people, stops the better our society will be.

lottieandmia - I think you are interpreting his comment strangely. Having read all your comments about what he said and the context, it sounds more to me like he was being a bit self-deprecating - that he hasn't had to struggle particularly to get where he is in life, as he has been insulated by circumstances for which he can claim absolutely no credit. Better people than him may have had to work far harder and be far more resilient just to end up in the same place. I'm not sure, therefore,where you are getting the sense of superiority from, as he is effectively saying only his abusive family has given him any backbone at all.

It was the tone of how he said it. However, since I'm autistic I definitely miss social meanings so that could be the reason for my confusion.