Page 6 | Does being married to a doctor make you middle class?

GirlGeorgina · 2023-08-19T14:05:36+00:00

Like if you got married to a doctor (who is male) and you’re not a doctor yourself, does it make you middle class now? I am not married but someone who is marrying a doctor but not a doctor herself said it makes you middle class too. Yes it does - YANBU No it doesn’t - YABU

Beezknees · 20/08/2023 11:12

I don't think you can change your class. It's more than a job and how much money you earn, it's to do with your upbringing, it's something that is intrenched in you from childhood.

So no, being married to a doctor doesn't make you middle class, nor does actually being a doctor make you middle class if you had a working class upbringing.

HarrietJet · 20/08/2023 11:17

Doctors are most definitely not working class as even brand new graduates doing their foundation training earn over £32k
Earning £32k catapults you straight into the middle classes? Ok...

palygold · 20/08/2023 12:32

I don't think you can change your class. It's more than a job and how much money you earn, it's to do with your upbringing, it's something that is intrenched in you from childhood.

Absolutely agree with this.

An unskilled manual worker, or someone claiming benefits, living on a council estate, can be middle or upper class, we learned this early on when studying politics, but I think it's common sense. They don't suddenly become working class because their financial situation has changed. They wouldn't be accepted as such. They still have their accent and background and would find it difficult to fit in.

Reverse that for the working class person with increased income, after say becoming a doctor, and it's quite the same really.

In the class threads the consensus is usually that it can take a generation or two to change class, so your children's children. A couple of celebrity examples are often used (I think the Beckhams is one).

palygold · 20/08/2023 12:32

HarrietJet · 20/08/2023 11:17

Doctors are most definitely not working class as even brand new graduates doing their foundation training earn over £32k
Earning £32k catapults you straight into the middle classes? Ok...

😀

Beezknees · 20/08/2023 14:15

palygold · 20/08/2023 12:32

I don't think you can change your class. It's more than a job and how much money you earn, it's to do with your upbringing, it's something that is intrenched in you from childhood.

Absolutely agree with this.

An unskilled manual worker, or someone claiming benefits, living on a council estate, can be middle or upper class, we learned this early on when studying politics, but I think it's common sense. They don't suddenly become working class because their financial situation has changed. They wouldn't be accepted as such. They still have their accent and background and would find it difficult to fit in.

Reverse that for the working class person with increased income, after say becoming a doctor, and it's quite the same really.

In the class threads the consensus is usually that it can take a generation or two to change class, so your children's children. A couple of celebrity examples are often used (I think the Beckhams is one).

Absolutely this.

If Prince William decided to quit royal life and went to work in a warehouse, he still wouldn't be working class. He's had an upper class upbringing, his values, ideologies and experiences in life are not working class and never will be. Equally if I won the euromillions tomorrow and never had to work another day in my life and started going to the opera and michelin restaurants, I'd still be working class due to my upbringing and life.

nameitagain · 20/08/2023 14:34

Have you never come across couples where one is middle class and one is working class? That's what your friend will be OP

Bellyblueboy · 21/08/2023 10:21

I have a friend who is a mechanic - he is married to a doctor. They drive an Audi and live in a nice house. But he is still the same person he was before he met his husband. Still has the same hobbies, accent, qualifications, tastes etc.

Lingfield01 · 22/08/2023 16:24

It makes you a doctors wife. Why does class even matter?

AllyCart · 22/08/2023 16:39

Your friend is slightly bonkers...

Off-topic but I work in the US a lot and notice that Americans talk about class as if it's wealth dependent.

SallyWD · 22/08/2023 17:08

Oh who cares?! The fact is if a cockney marries a doctor they'll always be seen as working class and so what? Nothing wrong with that.

bleuclair · 22/08/2023 20:26

AllyCart · 22/08/2023 16:39

Your friend is slightly bonkers...

Off-topic but I work in the US a lot and notice that Americans talk about class as if it's wealth dependent.

And by middle class they mean average. When I've heard it and asked.

DosCervezas · 22/08/2023 21:32

Sociological definitions of social class use the occupation of the chief income earner as the allocation of a person's social class. A doctor would be either class I or class Ii, depending on their responsibilities and level. The term ' middle class ' doesn't actually exist in the measure, but it can informally be taken to include either those two groups a doctor could be in.