What makes you middle class?

[Singlemum90]

So a comment from my mother a few years ago has stuck with me ever since then really. When I was no longer a single mum, and found myself a little less skint, she said 'oh it's so good now you're just a nice middle class mum, I'm so proud of you'

Aside from her clearly looking down at me before this, and deciding class was what defined how she felt about me- I have often wondered what made her decide I was middle class at this point.

How do you define it? (I feel it's very subjective) Is it what family you are born into? Your income?(And what income makes the 'classes'? Is it a specific job type? The way you stick your finger out when you drink tea?
Or is it just a shitty way to divide people and how they feel about themselves?

[Lifesucksthenyoudie]

It’s a weird one. I think it’s a feeling and how you grew up. It can’t be salary or income related because plumbers (for example) often earn more than middle management but don’t necessarily consider themselves middle class. I’m not sure younger generations even care.

[AllPrincessAnneshorses]

No worse than wanking on about being working class when you earn £££ and drive a Porsche.

[Biscoffisthebest]

But you can be working class and drive a Porsche. It’s upbringing, not wealth - certainly in the UK at least. Wayne Rooney will always be working class, for example.

[AristotelianPhysics]

You cannot change your class.

[UpsideLeft]

You can definitely change your class

It's why so many immigrants want their DC to go uni and become doctors for example

Education is key to opening up the class divide in some cases

[PuttingDownRoots]

Its a state of mind. A mixture of upbringing, employment and circumstances.

Your lifestyle might not match your own inner feelings and mindset.


And its all complete tosh.

[UpsideLeft]

It's how you think, where you live, who your friends are and what you do and say or don't say. Also how you dress

[UpsideLeft]

The film Educating Rita is an excellent example of class change, the mindset of etc etc

[MrsJellybee]

If’s apparently to do with seat positions in a car when giving another couple a lift.

If you’re working class, the men sit at the front, the women at the back
If you’re middle class, the couple driving sit at the front, other couple at the back
If you’re upper class, the driver (male) is accompanied by the wife of the other couple at the front, his wife and the other male passenger sit behind.

HTH 😉

[EveSix]

It's that thing you said about 'shitty'. Unless used in broader class analysis to identify systemic injustice or discrimination impacting specific groups in society.
Idle preoccupation with class ("PLU" type musings) perpetuates prejudice.

[Bluefell]

It’s not about money. It’s about interests and mindset. Middle class people usually have a more cultural and academic mindset, and more of an independent self-directed attitude. They don’t watch football or reality tv for example.

[Hoglet70]

My Dad would have said we were middle class when I was growing up but according to my Mum, if you have to work for a living then you are working class. I am definitely working class as an adult (silently looking down at the plebs around me like Hyacinth Bucket haha).

[Sartre]

Usually a sure fire sign if you’re worried about your class status. Middle class people tend to care about it way too much.

[DanceMumTaxi]

They don’t watch football? That’s a strange one - even Prince William watches football.

[Ibblin]

@Hoglet70

My Dad would have said we were middle class when I was growing up but according to my Mum, if you have to work for a living then you are working class. I am definitely working class as an adult (silently looking down at the plebs around me like Hyacinth Bucket haha).

This always comes up on these threads, whether it's something a poster believes or something someone they know believes. Just because someone thinks something, doesn't mean the widely-accepted definition of a word or term changes. Middle class and working class have been in common parlance for probably hundreds of years. Working class has never meant everyone who works (doctors, judges, politicians...).

[Hoglet70]

@Ibblin

This always comes up on these threads, whether it's something a poster believes or something someone they know believes. Just because someone thinks something, doesn't mean the widely-accepted definition of a word or term changes. Middle class and working class have been in common parlance for probably hundreds of years. Working class has never meant everyone who works (doctors, judges, politicians...).

No, it's just my Mum's opinion (which was also my Grandad's opinion). Doesn't mean it's the definition of it, just what she says. However, doctors, judges and politicians have all probably needed to work at some point in their lives and it's their successful careers that have enabled them to be in the position when they do not need to. They don't all come from affluent families who are financially independent.

[AnImaginaryCat]

How do you know someone is working class? They'll be obsessed with other people's class, have a chip on their shoulder so will tell you they are working class in case you mistake they for middle class.

How do you know someone is middle class? They'll be obsessed with their own class, have a chip on their shoulder and won't tell you they are middle class because you might be the wrong sort of person.

How do you tell someone is upper class? They don't care about class and are extremely comfortable who they are because they know everyone else is lesser.

I jest of course, @MrsJellybee's guide is much better.

[Janehasamane]

I’m surprised how often this comes up on here, and how much confusion there is. People making up their own definitions, like there isn’t actually an official and accepted one.

which is middle class is salaried professional role which required further education. It’s very simple.

[Geebray]

Working class did once mean that you earn your money. It doesn't now.

[PrinceLouisWeirdFinger]

Working class = whippets and flat caps
Middle class = champagne and avocado on toast
Upper class = anorexia and buggery.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk 😂

[CaterhamReconstituted]

Class is a complex interplay of many different factors such as wealth (especially inherited wealth), family background, occupation, language, accent, interests (‘cultural capital’), habits, values and assumptions. No, you cannot change your class. You can always earn more money of course but you cannot change your class. A lottery winner doesn’t magically become a different class the moment the jackpot hits.

[alpenguin]

There’s no set definition of what makes someone working or middle class .

i certainly dont ascribe the idea that its based on education or culture because that assumes working class people are uneducated or don’t appreciate culture.
i also don’t believe its based solely on income or belongings because that suggests you can’t earn a lot of money or own nice/expensive things if you’re working class.


i would just ignore your mum OP be glad your situation seems to have improved and get on with life.

[BigFluffyHoodie]

If you insist that people take their shoes off in your home, you're lower middle class.

[Lilysilrose]

I think it’s about a set of shared behavioural expectations which differ from other groups (who have their own norms).

some of these would be:
-Concern about being seen to polite (probably to an over anxious level),

-valuing education (and high pressure if they don’t ‘perform’),

-concern about diet and eating ‘well’ (but not so worried about wine calories),

• friendships which are less heart on sleeve and more about fulfilling polite expectations.

• concern not to be seen as ‘rich’ or struggling. Hence wearing labels but insisting they are all from a charity shop.

[StealthMama]

Working Class used to be the blue collar workers. Factory workers, miners, housekeepers etc.

Middle Class were the owners of those businesses and usually managed them.

Upper class had wealth, investments and didn't 'work' at all.

It's evolved to salary levels, education etc but its origination is quite plain segregation of society.