What makes you middle class ?

[toddlerdanger]

Inspired by another thread. Just for a bit of fun.

MN is obsessed with this. Let me start- I am not originally British - so I wasn't born into this system. But I understand it somewhat. But I would like to understand what it is that makes you middle class.

Here are my thoughts, gathered from 20 plus years of living here, please correct me if I'm wrong. I don't want to offend, I find this topic fascinating, especially since reading so much about it on here:

• speaking in an RP accent, so not in a regional accent

• living in a period property or cottage ( an old house basically )

• playing board games and scrabble

• loving puns and word play

• having read all the classic books because you grew up with them and your parents showed you/ talked for you about them since you were young

• having parents who don't do manual jobs/ are entrepreneurs. Middle class parents seem to work in academia or in the corporate world in general.

• having parents who have a degree

• having parents that have been to private school

• having been to private school ( but not 100 percent necessary )

• having a degree yourself

• not driving flash cars, think more like a Volvo rather than a Porsche

• shopping at Waitrose

• not piercing your child's ears until they're in their teens

• not having too much flashy designer stuff. The odd bag is OK. But not constant flashing of designer stuff. More understated

• the Christmas lights things. Not too many colours, but more subdued. Think warm white vs ice white lights

• antiques in the home

• not into football, but more into rugby

This is all I can think of right now.

Analysis of the survey revealed seven classes: a wealthy "elite;" a prosperous salaried "middle class" consisting of professionals and managers; a class of technical experts; a class of ‘new affluent’ workers, and at the lower levels of the class structure, in addition to an ageing traditional working class, a ‘precariat’ characterised by very low levels of capital, and a group of emergent service workers.

Tbh alot of the stuff you described just sounds like what older people do regardless of class. I don't meet much of your list, but I'm pretty sure I'm middle class. (Both parents have masters degrees, father works in academia mother is retired. DS goes to private school, drive a Mercedes, am a higher rate taxpayer etc.) And tbh I don't know what the fascination is with being middle class? It's nothing special. Middle-class is not rich. It's just comfortable. The royals & upper classes like nobility and landed gentry are wayy more fascinating than just being plain old middle class.

If you have to ask..

I'm pretty middle class, parents met at university in the 60s. Both working class families. But RAF and other war related stuff for their parents. Pushed us to independent schools, many years later have 3 daughters , me, senior management in HE, Middle sis is freelance procurement, earns more than I do, youngest a professional musician.. we are all middle class and different. But what we all have in common is curiosity and a thirst to know more in whatever field it is. We are an ace quiz team...

For me its a bit about access to books, libraries, castles, stately homes, yes I know I will be laughed at here, but we did aot of that stuff when we were little, with homemade sandwiches, so it didn't cost much. My parents were always about working with you if you expressed an interest. That to me is middle class

It's easy to spot someone middle class. They spend a lot of time going out of their way to prove it.

Heh, that may be true. But do you think it works up or down on that theory?

I tick 13 of your boxes, OP, and I am definitely working class!

Being told I am.

In terms of op's criteria I hit them all apart from the fact that I prefer football to rugby, and go to mon league footie games, which probably makes me infra dig. Why does this matter by the way? Shouldn't we be liking people for who they are rather than for backgrounds they can't help as they were kids and had no choice.

Why are new builds seen by some as being for the working class and period properties as being for the middle class?

Wondering if my liking for new builds and ensuites shows my working class roots

Actually its an interesting question. DP has two games, is brilliant at what he does in construction, since we've lived together he reads more books on his kindle than I do, is venturing into areas of history where I can't help, ìs he middle class now ;-)

Gcses, not games, sorry

@Sportycustard

I'm a class jumper.

Born working class, both parents worked in factories and were right to buy homeowners. Went to state school, trained as a nurse before it was a degree entry profession. Never had a regional accent. Not sure why as I grew up in the Black Country and didn't actively try not to aquire the local accent.

At 22 I went to university, discovered politics, radio 4 and lots of new experiences. Got onto a prestigious grad scheme.

Married someone in a very niche traditional profession. Met through a dating agency.

I changed my (v working class name) to fit in. No regrets. It was a game changer. We moved around a lot due to promotions so reinventing myself was easy.

Now have a 4 bed house, a child in a grammar school who plays 2 instruments and plays sport at County level. We go to lots of cultural events. I work in a board level job and our income is 6 figures. I volunteer for several charities including a food bank.

I never refer to my past. Everyone thinks I'm home counties middle class.

My parents see me as a class traitor, my inlaws think I don't belong.

I have no idea what I am.

But why did you change your name? What makes you think you had to purge yourself of a ‘WC name’, far less reinvent yourself?

I wouldn't trust a new build because of all the issues I've heard re quality. But then despite being an above average earner, we rent as the deposit is ludicrous. I'd still go for an older property if I were looking

Middle class to me is quite frankly common 😜

Because I love John Lewis more than any other shop by a very long way.

Sorry, that is very sad. I am a proud brummie. People don't get it when i speak, but I never had an accent. I am enmeshed in my home town. I would never deny it. Its part of who I am.

Is class not completely outdated or am I outing my upbringing

Oh and I love accents

It should be but isn't. When I went to university (c rather than, o) I was very much on the poor end of the scale. But the contacts were invaluable , I went on holiday with an mp as i was his daughters friend.

Ahh the aspiring middle classes such joy!
So exhausting to have to be defined by what you consume, read or wear. So kind to judge and look down on lower quality people that enjoy a knees up in Benidorm, a game of darts and a flick through The Sun while chomping on greggs and digging out a one pound coin to defoil a scratch card. How much more splendid and better to be pigeon holed like that 😏

My parents were a bit dubious to let me go but ended up faking an id card for me to drink in the us . Top work parents.

Angels, I enjoy all those things too. You seem to be the one with the issue...

What a list OP. The majority on your list is very possesional based.

Class isn't just about possessions it's almost like an aura... the way you carry yourself. I think class is hard to describe in words but IRL you can often see if someone is middle classes.

They often speak, may dress well but simple and it's and linked with family background too.

I love 2 penny drop, fish and chips on the beach, dirty chicken in south london, Tolstoy, the tate modern, a michelin star place if I can get it group on ;-) we just all do our do.