To wonder why anything that is good for kids is seen as 'middle class'?

[stuffstuffeverywhere]

Where did this weird, slightly derisory attitude come from?

Organic food? Middle class,
Fresh air and countryside? Middle class.
Clothing made of natural fibres? Middle class.
Breastfeeding? Middle class.
BLW? Middle class.
Books? Middle class.

Why are all the positive stereotypes seen as middle class?

Think about working class parenting stereotypes and it's all negative: sky tele, Mac Donald's, PlayStation, obesity....

Something very weird going on with our perceptions....

Another here who has absolutely no idea what class we are or how you know . We work hard and seem to have bugger all left so I suppose there's my answer

I don't think there are classes anymore, didn't they go when credit became acceptable, no longer being a stigma because you were poor.

You can sound like the old middle class on paper but be completely working class.

kaytee87

I call it ‘so called’ because I believe if someone in your household has to work you’re WC

I'll say again, the middle classes have always worked (in professions) it's the upper classes who don't work.

Exactly. If someone works they are working class!? That is an utterly simplistic and daft idea.

Books - actual real books - are to be appreciated and part of any true middle or upper class home.

“Today 20:34 RoseWhiteTips

Books - actual real books - are to be appreciated and part of any true middle or upper class home.”

This is the biggest load of tosh on this thread. Where did you get these daft ideas? Reading too much Nancy Mitford?

The middle classes are made up. It's merely marketing to take money off your handd.
I am currently staying in one of those cheap as chips places that the MC think are better than Butlins because it's following a trend for "eco". But it's still for the masses, nothing special or even eco about it at all.
Well, unless you like a good game of 21 (first to spot 21 Cath Kidston/ Seasalt/ bags coats etcinsert latest aspirational brand here). If you do it in less that 21 mins you're usually in Padstow.

God not another class thread

It's a chicken and egg thing. MC people decide that MC activities are good and as they are professionals in relevant fields are able to promote MC activities as beneficial.

WC people believe WC activities are good but WC people are not professionals in medicine, psychology and child development so are not in a position to promote their beliefs.

At center parcs, ooooeeerrr?

Sprinklesinmyelbow

Fact.

That books are to be read and cherished - and even re-read! Imagine!

Fact? Says who? You?

“That books are to be read and cherished and even re read- imagine!”

Don’t be disingenuous. No one is going to fall for that. You very clearly said a staple of any middle or upper class home

Very clearly marking yourself as a working class hyacinth bucket type, incidentally

A lot of people on here are equating class with money- it's not that simple.

Perfectly possible to be destitute and middle class or working class and loaded. More likely to be the other way round.

What are working class activities these days?

As in now, not when we were kids.

There is an interesting Grayson Perry programme about classes and the divisions within them. Middle classes were divided in a few ways, but I remember there was a division between middle classes who strove for material display, and middle classes who strove for knowledge (and display of that).

So the ‘materials’ on the show were very concerned with things like having the latest Jamie Oliver homeware (was a few years back) and keeping up with the latest home decor trends, having the right car, wearing the right clothes. The ‘knowledge’ set were more concerned with having lots of books around the house, having art on display and evidence of culture from travels etc plus reading the right newspapers and being outwardly ‘green’ showing they are knowledgeable about the environment.

And both sets were sneery and looked down on each other.

So you can be middle class in different ways. It doesn’t have to involve books. Not all middle class people have the same values.

Upper class people do, however, tend to have books —or libraries— especially as they often inherit them. But many of them are often incredibly proud of never having read a page and being as thick as two short planks.

Working class activities? Ummm.., anything? There are approx 60 million people in this country you know

sorry, but I don't buy the avid-reader on a kindle theory. Not all books have been released on kindles for a start, some cannot be read properly on these small tablets, , and there are just not the same. You don't teach a child to read and enjoy stories on a kindle, you can't see pictures, you are missing a lot if you stick to Kindle exclusively.

I have a kindle, I use it, makes my bags lighter, but it's not the same. It's still cheaper to buy second-hand books, unless you borrow ebooks from your local library.

Eh? I haven’t come across a book not available on kindle for years. Children reading is totally and utterly (and obviously) different

And class exists.

A couple of weeks ago I went to do different meetings. One, included various people all at the top of their professions and whose line manager is a gov minister.

The other meeting, included people struggling to get on with it on benefits, min wage, zero hour contracts etc.

Some posters on here want me to believe that these two groups of people have the same culture, views and experiences? Will be perceived the same way by the outside world?

That's disingenuous to say the least!

Your example above about your meeting has nothing to do with your original post OP.

There is also no reason to think the people in the meeting (including the OMG gov minister) aren’t working class

Rose, Upper Middle Classes can work in certain well regarded professions. Doctors/Lawyers/Engineers often hold that spot.
Royalty and those that don't need to work would be considered Elite.
All this being said, Wikipedia has updated the information on UK Class System to the new 7 category :) yay for updated info

RoyalBelum

sorry, but I don't buy the avid-reader on a kindle theory. Not all books have been released on kindles for a start, some cannot be read properly on these small tablets, , and there are just not the same. You don't teach a child to read and enjoy stories on a kindle, you can't see pictures, you are missing a lot if you stick to Kindle exclusively.

I have a kindle, I use it, makes my bags lighter, but it's not the same. It's still cheaper to buy second-hand books, unless you borrow ebooks from your local library.

Yep. This makes sense.

The thread is about class, my post was about class.

The particular gov minister is not, working class. You're going to have to trust me on that one.

Thought kindles were on there way out now?

I haven’t come across a book not available on kindle for years.
ok, lucky you. It's actually very irritating when you are looking for something specific, as the main bonus of the kindle is to give you a book immediately, not 2 or 3 days later.

I prefer real books, and tend to buy hard copies of my favourite reads.
Nothing to do with class, but I think it's important for kids to see real books, and to see their parents read, not just scroll on a tablet or a computer.

Ivebeenaroundtheblock

Interesting. I have done the test thing and I am in the elite group. Go me!