Friends, salaries, careers choices and being a Brit - COVID edition

[Covitvaxed]

Had a conversation with a close and long-term friend. We both have post-graduate qualifications and started careers at highly sought (then/now) graduate schemes nearly 20 years ago.

She (Brit) had children and later quit. Now works for an NGO in a clerical and part-time post.
I (non Brit, came to UK for a Masters) had children later and still work full-time and now at an executive level for a UK company based overseas.

I was on track for a promotion - now moratorium on recruitment (internal/external) and no increase for certain levels last year and this year.
A few days ago, we had a Zoom call plus wine and I moaned about this and she snapped and said she is on a minimum wage, and I should "feel privileged to earn more than 20 times the minimum wage", it came as a surprise and quickly ended the call. We are quite open about our lives to one another.

On thinking about this, IABU:

1. Privilege is ability to choose to quit
2. Many women manage child care and full-time jobs and do not expect awards unlike the friend and her types
3. On observation, faux poverty/hardships olympics are a particular British badge of pride for the privileged/political activists class

@KeyboardWorriers

It was astonishingly tone deaf of you to complain to her about this.

I am highly paid compared to a lot of my friends and can't imagine moaning to them if I don't get a payrise.

That's my take too. If you're on 20x minimum wage that's £340,000+ per year.

Moaning about not getting a pay rise to someone on £18,000 is never going to come across well!

There is a growing, vocal set on MN these days who have this attitude that if your job is not well paid it was your fault for choosing it.

Whose fault was it, if not yours?

People blaming childcare/wifework/high earning spouse with Big Important Job... get a nanny! Demand he shares the shitwork! Negotiate better with your employers! Take your excellent skills to companies that embrace flexible working . And please don't whine and act like the victim when you've tried none of those things.