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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The class system in the UK needs a revolution

91 replies

Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 20:19

So, lots of things have had me pondering this. I studied Sociology in my first degree. One thing that always caught my attention was the statistics that were stacked against anyone trying to ‘climb’ social classes. Everything is stacked against you.

I find it so hard to understand why single mothers are constantly painted as scroungers and the enemy of the state, when the majority work and just are completely failed by the misogynistic, not fit for purpose, CMS system that basically leaves them bringing up their children with all the financial, emotional and logistical responsibilities, that the fathers don’t have… and no one makes them. There’s so many other things that boil my blood, like blaming addicts and low income families, disability’s and everyone else at the ‘bottom of the pile’ to justify why resources shouldn’t go to them.

I dip in and out of this forum but I’m drawn to it because time and time again I hear the ‘middle class’ objectives and excuses.

It’s like Mancock being in the jungle. As long as I maintain my upper class charm while eating a kangaroo penis, all is good with the world, ignore everything that went on before… we don’t talk about that. Slap on the back, and on your way 🫡.

Am I unreasonable to think there needs to be a ‘levelling up’? Mancock is private educated with the world at his feet, IF we actually had a system where a ‘level up’ politician- was even possible, single mother, who was from a working class background was in the same position as him… would she have been redeemed in the same way?

I think not… time for a revolution? 🤔

OP posts:
Theancetocomein · 30/11/2022 20:24

Matt Hancock is not upper class

Theancetocomein · 30/11/2022 20:25

As you were ....

LonginesPrime · 30/11/2022 20:29

How would you propose to overhaul things, OP?

Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 20:29

Hmmm 🤔

OP posts:
Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 20:31

Levelling up 50/50 parliament is trying to address the ridiculous imbalance of male vs female already… still nowhere near fair…

OP posts:
Greenshake · 30/11/2022 20:32

You only have to look at the reaction to the Queen’s passing to see that most people don’t want/are not ready for an overhaul of the class system.

Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 20:33

Social conditioning. Doesn’t make it right or equitable or just.

OP posts:
Luckydip1 · 30/11/2022 20:38

I thought poor single mothers go to the top of the list for council housing and lots of benefits already.

Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 20:38

Is he worried about paying his bills, feeding his children, heating his home, having enough diesel/petrol to get to work? He’s upper class in this shit show of a country

OP posts:
LonginesPrime · 30/11/2022 20:47

He's still not upper class, though. There's no climbing into the upper class, regardless of schemes and quotas and whatnot.

Im not saying the system's fair - obviously it's not and the disadvantaged face huge systemic barriers to wellbeing (health, financial, social, educational, etc).

But IMO it can't really be changed without appealing to the people in power, so I think it's quite important to appreciate their position and to speak their language too (not least when you're telling them things they'd be only too happy to ignore to maintain the status quo).

MaggieFS · 30/11/2022 20:49

I think historically class was indicative of a level of wealth, use of etiquette, possibly education, and so on, whereas today these things are all independent of class.

"Class" doesn't really tell us very much about anything these days.

Hooverphobe · 30/11/2022 20:57

YABU for watching such brain-rotting drivel.

Yours, a disabled single mum.

Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 21:10

In what way?

OP posts:
Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 21:13

So! It’s only the school boys who can tell us what to do… just because… just because 🙄

OP posts:
Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 21:13

Interesting perspective

OP posts:
isadoradancing123 · 30/11/2022 21:15

Being wealthy, able to pay for private school , have your heating on etc etc does not make you upper class, it means that you have money

Boomboom22 · 30/11/2022 21:17

Angela Raynor?

Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 21:19

What ‘class’ can hear their homes/can’t heat their homes? What ‘class’ puts food on the table? What ‘class’ dictates laws, governs parliaments and your every move? The working classes? The underclass? The utterly disadvantaged in society? These are the people I want to hear from? Middle net… not so much

OP posts:
Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 21:20

Love her

OP posts:
Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 21:22

And privilege? And the opportunity over those who are fighting to survive? Correct?

OP posts:
Blueberrywitch · 30/11/2022 21:22

You’re right, coming from outside the UK the class system here is awful and the UK needs a revolution. But I do think it is happening, and pretty fast too - eg Wills marrying Kate, Harry marrying Meghan, Lady SH having to resign today for making racist remarks. I even think in workplaces now people are a bit 🙄🙄 at anyone to silver spooned, in a way that I’m sure wouldn’t have happened even 30 years ago. So change is happening OP and we just have to keep pushing for it.

Sleepysailor · 30/11/2022 21:23

I never understood the British class system. I'm from a country where education was the divider in most recent history, the intelligent class was always highly regarded and aspired to. No tuition fees too so achievable for most.
Is this what is missing in this country?

HelloMrBond · 30/11/2022 21:23

Op, I do believe your rant is not quite relevant to your thread title. I have friends who are old fashioned upper class, but asset rich, cash poor. I also have friends who are self made multi millionaires, but still working class. Money / wealth has no correlation to class.

BMW6 · 30/11/2022 21:25

Toastandavocado · 30/11/2022 21:19

What ‘class’ can hear their homes/can’t heat their homes? What ‘class’ puts food on the table? What ‘class’ dictates laws, governs parliaments and your every move? The working classes? The underclass? The utterly disadvantaged in society? These are the people I want to hear from? Middle net… not so much

Well I certainly can and I was born and brought up in a Council house.

As a pp said, MONEY is what you need, fuck all to do with Class. Plenty of aristocracy can't afford to heat their homes as they are asset rich but cash poor.

BMW6 · 30/11/2022 21:27

As for the "ruling class" they tend to come from excellent educations.

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