Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this 'middle' or 'working ' class

146 replies

FarmerSamon · 30/03/2023 13:07

Back in 2013, I put on Facebook that I'd just shopped at a local weekly outdoor farmer's market set up in our area, and I was proud of myself for buying local, fresh, produce from a small, local, independent retailer - all locally sourced food in paper packaging - not a nasty piece of plastic in sight!! I put a status to this effect on Facebook - yes smug I know.

My Fb friend commented that this sounded 'very middle class' and I said - no you could argue it's more 'working class' as working class people are more likely to have jobs in the primary industries - so I'm supporting the local economy

Any thoughts ?

OP posts:
SnackSizeRaisin · 30/03/2023 20:28

Mypatioisminging · 30/03/2023 16:43

Yes, folks are coming up with their own definitions, which is interesting.

class is not about disposable income. Money only comes into it as typically unskilled labour on a wage, which is what working class is. Typically earns less than skilled labour that requires further education. Which is middle class. Not always but that’s where the difference in affluence comes in.

someone who is working class can have a huge amount more disposable income than someone middle class.depending on how you spend your money and what commitments you have.

Show quote history

Agree. Class is not really related to income - although WC people may be more likely to be poor. It's more about tastes and education level.
WC = TV in kids bedrooms, dress kids in fancy clothes, shop in supermarkets but buy branded ketchup. Bottle feed baby. Disposable nappies. Spend a lot on Christmas presents
MC = books everywhere, kids wear old scruffy clothes, farmers markets, own brand ketchup, breast feed baby, reusable nappies . Recycle everything but go on a few holidays abroad each year. Kids get 4 Christmas presents including book and socks. Etc.
(Obviously tongue in cheek and not all apply to all)

SleepingStandingUp · 30/03/2023 20:30

CocoFifi · 30/03/2023 16:31

if you work; you are working class! This snobbery makes me laugh. I know people that look down on others, as they think having the right car, wearing the right clothes, living in a bigger house, going to certain shops, makes them superior. Most of these people are in debt up to their eyeballs and the people they look down on own everything outright

Oh yes, all those Hartley Street doctors, SO working class. And the High Court judges, and any members of the extended Royal Family with jobs. So WC one minute then they quit and oof, suddenly Upper/Aristocratic

sheeeeeeshh · 30/03/2023 20:36

It was10 years ago. Why are you thinking about it?!!

Fairislefandango · 30/03/2023 20:38

In terms of the primary industry thing I think there's more jobs in forestry, fishing etc that are working class in nature than middle class ... so it's supporting the local economy

You are missing the point entirely. Your FB friend wasn't commenting on the class of the people whose jobs depend on you spending your money on their products. She was commenting on the typical class of people who shop at farmers' markets.

sheeeeeeshh · 30/03/2023 20:38

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 30/03/2023 13:42

Decade old anecdotes are best when they involve some juicy sex details or a confession of criminal wrongdoing.

These things are classless.

farnhamgal · 30/03/2023 22:02

I really, don't think, your friend has, given this a second, thought

Neither should, you,

phonemouse · 30/03/2023 22:57

I'm finding this a very odd thread!

Timesawastin · 30/03/2023 23:01

FarmerSamon · 30/03/2023 13:07

Back in 2013, I put on Facebook that I'd just shopped at a local weekly outdoor farmer's market set up in our area, and I was proud of myself for buying local, fresh, produce from a small, local, independent retailer - all locally sourced food in paper packaging - not a nasty piece of plastic in sight!! I put a status to this effect on Facebook - yes smug I know.

My Fb friend commented that this sounded 'very middle class' and I said - no you could argue it's more 'working class' as working class people are more likely to have jobs in the primary industries - so I'm supporting the local economy

Any thoughts ?

Lazy journo time again.
If genuine, why do you care? It was 10 years ago!

pncr · 30/03/2023 23:02

Why are you even giving this head space after 10 years?

DerekFaker · 31/03/2023 14:17

Class is one of Mumsnet's greatest obsessions.

NurseCranesRolodex · 31/03/2023 16:14

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 30/03/2023 19:56

That's priceless!! 😂

JudgeRudy · 31/03/2023 16:34

IrishGothic · 30/03/2023 13:18

It's a frankly silly comparison. Being vegan is a dietary choice. Unlike being WC.

Show quote history

It's an excellent comparison. It's comparing two types of percieved 'virtue signaling'.

TonTonMacoute · 31/03/2023 16:41

Is it important to only support hard-working working class producers? Don't middle class producers, who work hard to produce good local food, deserve support too?

I am middle class OP, so I don't have to worry about all that crap, and for the last four years I have bought virtually all my food from our local food network. It's a brilliant system, you order online and pick up your stuff on Friday afternoon. This is in a rural area btw.

I do this because I get amazing quality produce, organic, fresh, high welfare with low food miles, but supporting local producers is very important too.

The produce is more expensive than the supermarket (sometimes a lot more) but I end up spending far less overall on my weekly shop. It's really made me aware of how good supermarkets are at getting us spend lots of money we don't need to!

Chickenkeev · 31/03/2023 16:41

Who GAF really?

DannyZukosSmile · 31/03/2023 16:46

NOT middle class at all. Although some people who go to farmers markets probably think they're middle class.

If you have to SAY you're middle class, and ask others if THEY think you are.......... You're really NOT. Wink

Also, as a pp said, it's weird, and attention-seeking, and vapid, and a bit lame, to post about it on facebook!

SeeWhatYouGetWhenYouAskAStupidQuestion · 31/03/2023 16:48

It's NO class. Boring and pointless. Why do some people think their mundane actions are interesting to anyone at all? I've got a friend who does this. Banal and meaningless.

JudgeRudy · 31/03/2023 16:50

Posting on FB and essentially saying "Look at me, I've made socially responsible choices to support local businesses. You too could join me (if you really cared)"....this is very naive, because no @FarmerSamon not everyone can do that. Maybe it's on a Wednesday afternoon when I'm at work or perhaps it's in a village on Sunday and I don't have transport....or more likely l can't afford to spend £12 on a block of cheese and £10 for 4 sausages.....because lm working class and broke.
Of course a plumber and a hairdresser could be working class with a very decent income and a lawyer and teacher could consider themselves middle class but be struggling to pay their mortgage so it 'class' doesn't always equate to either income or proffesion.....but it generally does.

What's bought this up. Did you have a FB memory pop up?

steff13 · 31/03/2023 17:28

It doesn't matter whether shopping at a Farmer's Market is "middle class." In fact, it's so inconsequential that I can't believe your friend had that thought, let alone posted it.

The original post was terribly self-congratulatory.

You are both being unreasonable.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 31/03/2023 17:43

I think it's aspirational working class. Was this the only time anyone called you MC?

mozzierella · 01/04/2023 07:54

If course you sound smug and middle class

Working classes cant afford farmers markets

They shop in Asas and Aldis

New posts on this thread. Refresh page