To ask another 'class' question?

[PonyLo]

I know.
But i was reading another thread and it brought this to mind. People keep blithering on about it on MN, but the topic is often about signifiers such as clothes, house, job, schools, consumer choices and such.

So I had this thought - if a huge amount of people were just placed together in a big group wearing only a simple cotton dressing gown and no make up, could you tell what *social group they belonged to?

Like the bare bones?
My guess is that probably not! You might try to pick 'hair style' but I have found that varies wildly (I am middle class with a good amount of natural frizz). Which kind of confirms my suspicion that it's all about perception, rather than fact.

*'Social Group' is a much preferable description since it disqualifies attempts to use hierarchical judgements.

Boom! 🤣

Accent and vocab would be top tellers for me.

That doesn't mean posh = wider vocab. It means things like using U / non-U language, boarding school words, that sort of thing, whereas working class use more regional vernacular.

Nobody was equating wealth with intelligence.

boarding school words, that sort of thing

Bit the vast majority of mc people today can’t afford boarding school for their dc?

I remember dating someone from a very working class background who was boggled by how soft my hands were, seemingly every girl he had ever held hands with before had hardish hands

That's 'cos we all work down t'mines love.

And we're so 'very workin' class' (whatever that means 😂), that we've not got t'shovels or t'pickaxes, that we just use us bare 'ands.

but

Totally.

Denying the class divide is used in the same way as denying racism or sexism - the denial is intentionally deployed to prevent change.

There used to be one called the ‘Pink Witch’ - coveted by masses of teen girls.

'Smart bike for smart girls' according to the advert!

Yes. Working class class have soot on their face from the coal mines.

🙄

(Working class and indeed mining roots before anyone has a go at my irreverence.)

These threads always confuse the UMC and middle class. It’s ridiculous.

The average middle class family can’t afford private day school let alone boarding school.

In the thread from a few days ago about health outcomes across socio-economic groups, there were pages and pages of people saying it’s because the middle class can afford “personal trainers, private healthcare, regular spa days, multiple holidays” etc.

I know far more middle class people who can’t afford a gym membership (especially since COL) than ones who can afford a personal trainer.

@RudolphTheRedNosedSpaniel

I also say the word 'cunt' with such poetic ease my class status would be undeniable.

Oh but! I'm also tall, slim, have lovely hair & know long words - even how to spell them!

Put me in this room, I'd make their heads explode 😂

It would also be very easy to tell the 'new money' multi-millionaire from the 'old money' aristocrat whose wealth is all locked up in crumbling stonework and leaky roofs.

Conversation would usually reveal, I suspect. You can tell from values attitudes how informed they are confidence perspectives. There's a class of people who went to private school, travel abroad without thinking about cost, casually mention socialising with Royals or meeting the Queen (to be honoured).

DD recently dated a member of the SuperRich. Loads of jawdropping stuff there.

Swearing is V upper class darling!

I think its harder with younger people, because I think the middle class is shrinking and the types of jobs available now are very different. Was it john major who said 'we are all middle class now' . I think the reality is 'we are all working class now'

But i think when people talk, accent, words they use etc give a lot away about backgrounds.

"I remember dating someone from a very working class background who was boggled by how soft my hands were, seemingly every girl he had ever held hands with before had hardish hands"

I do love it when time travellers show up on Mumsnet.....

*dahling

Yes it's gloriously stupid!!

@Caerulea "I also say the word 'cunt' with such poetic ease my class status would be undeniable."

Now there I would need other indicators-but it might put you upper class. Confident swearing is very posh indeed.

They could hardly say ‘a pretty bike for pretty girls’ - it was pink and lilac IIRC.

I’ve just remembered that in her novel ‘The Country Girls’, Edna O’Brien gave the main character’s friend* Baba, who had everything, a Pink Witch.

*”She was my best friend and I hated her”. Classic quote!😂

@Usernamen I don’t get it!

I think there’s a difference in the perception of working class and “lower class”. I’d see working class as people who work with their bodies eg builders, cleaners, warehouse assistants. People who provide physical labour.
The funny thing is my dad was an electrician and had friends who were builders, joiners etc and they probably earned upwards of £50k a year but would never think of themselves as middle class.
But the stereotypes I’ve seen bandied about on here of veneers, botox, tattoos etc I’m assuming you mean people who don’t appear to work - I wouldn’t class these as “working” class as you surely have to work to be working class.

I think the reality is 'we are all working class now'

i think that’s why some cling onto the markers, accepting the above is fate worse than death!

Think my mumsnet bingo card might be full!