Inequality is widening even in middle class children

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We live in a nice, mc road. Kids all go to the nice state schools nearby & most of the kids went to activities in the evening. Since September those kids have been out playing since 9 even after dark some as old as 4... I asked dd why her friends were no longer coming to karate & soccer, she said their parents can't afford it.. I met one of our neighbours this evening who said they had to cut right back on extras for the kids due to the cost of living.. Feel so sorry for the kids.. The inequality used be between the working class & middle class now many of the middle class can no longer afford what they used be able to.. Aibu to think this or is it just my perception?

I think talking about people in terms of class is antiquated bollocks. 🤷

But I agree that widening inequality is a problem

Oh no. MC children playing in the street. People will think that they are not nice.

I'd feel more sorry for the dc who are going without food and heat tbh. But yes the inequality is widening from richest to poorest.

So you feel sorry for the kids because they are middle class so shouldn't miss out on activities?
Ahh well at least they still live on a nice middle class road so it's not all bad.

What a fucking weird thread.

What's soccer?

Well, society has become more affluent over time with better and more widely accessible education, more educational grants, better job protections etc, so the ‘middle class’ is the group that grows larger than the more wealthy and those more impoverished. It encompasses the biggest percentage of people.

I thinks it’s understandable that you will see some bigger gaps in that group in particular.

Oh, no, however will they cope having to go without like - shudder - Poor People?

You didn’t feel sorry for the WC kids that have never had access to these things and now may not have access to food & heat?

Bet they don't scrub their front steps, either.

Some harsh replies here.

I do think a big section of society has got used to having an awful lot of what used to be considered luxuries. When I was a kid in the 80’s you had Brownies or Cubs plus swimming if you were lucky.

Soccer?

‘First they came for the extra-curriculars…’

I don't think children playing out in the dark at 4 is to do with not being able to afford activities. Very odd thread.

There's something off about your post but I can't quite articulate it.

The only difference between working class and middle class these days is priorities/attitudes/culture NOT money.

A bricklayer or plumber will be earning much more than a secondary school teacher. Some as much as a medical consultant.

So in your post, mentioning playing out on the street, I don't really understand? Are you saying middle class attitudes are changing?

It your not saying that and your saying it's finances are changing.. then what's that got to do with class? Why even mention it? Why not just say more people are struggling and can't afford activities for their kids?

Class and income aren't directly related

@ShouldIGoHigher yes, it's as if the OP is horrified that the inequality is now affecting the middle class. I'm sure it was just poorly worded, but that is how i read it.

This isn't a nice thread.

Because the naice activities were the bulwark against the MC kids going feral and proletarian. If they’re not kept off the street at tennis and viola lessons, they start keying cars and graffiti-ing. Then gradually a tide of pebble-dash will roll across the MC houses, a sofa will appear in every second front garden, and an Oxford-educated lawyer will shout ‘Get in ‘ere, Darren, or I’ll eat yer chips!’

Yep this is a bizarre thread. DS didn’t do many activities aged 4, but he still wasn’t playing out on the street in the dark by himself at 9pm, he was in bed. That isn’t lack of money, it’s neglect.

OP I think you mean middle earners rather than class, saying people who use to be able to afford a holdiay and some clubs for their kids are now having to think about finances more. The middle earners are feeling the pinch more and more.

Which in turn means the lowest earners are really struggling to afford food and heating.

Sometimes on MN it feels like you can't possibly saying anything negative about a situation unless that situation is rock bottom poverty.

That's not my point. My point is they used to be able to attend sports & activities now they are no longer able to as their parents need to cut back.

Absolutely but we were always aware of such poverty & attempts have been made to provide breakfast clubs & school meals. I know many still go without & it is heartbreaking.
However my point is these are kids who up to a couple of months ago had much more going on in their lives but their parents can't afford to facilitate this anymore as the cost of living has made it unfeasible.. Nothing will be done for these kids as technically they have a nice roof over their head, food, attend school but still the inequality gap will widen it's just not as visible..