Is going to the circus a working class activity?

[Gooseinthewood]

I was born and raised quite working class, husband middle class.
I saw tickets advertised for a circus in a nearby town and arranged to take our children. He came along and appreciated the silliness but commented that he was surprised I took them as it's quite a low class activity. Bit tongue in cheek. He doesn't really care, but typically we are more theatre / rugby types.

I have to say he's probably right but I didn't really realise this is a thing.

I agree it's more a low-class type of humour. Up there with pantomimes. Ugh.

I grew up middle class. We went or the circus annually!

Nope, solidly middle class childhood and similar now. I went to a couple of circuses as a child and have taken my DD a couple of times. My DPIL are firmly upper middle class and they took DD to a circus near them last year.

It never occurred to me to consider it anything other than a fun activity for my small child.

I don’t think it is.
im not sure what differentiates those who do and don’t like the circus.
i didn’t as a child and I guess my family didn’t either. I don’t find slap stick funny and I think ‘spectacles’ are boring. But not to do with my class.

You’ve never taken your dc to a pantomime?

I’m bucking the trend here and would say that yes, in my view, they are WC.. much like fun fairs.

Not at all. In fact I think its almost hyacinth bucket type of lower middle class aspiration to be more, to think that there is some kind of class attached to this kind of activity.

There’s a brilliant circus on the Isle of Wight every year. We took our GD, who is probably more middle class than we are, and we all had a great time. In fact she asked to go again when they were pitched near her home.

Do working class people not visit the rugby and theatre?

Personally, ive always considered rugby and theatre quite working class.

But I am a polo matches and parlour games type.

This is the most classically Mumsnettish thread title I've seen in a long time.

Your husband sounds like an utter snob. I could never be married to someone like this.

Good luck in your marriage, but I really don't think marriages where one is working class and one is middle class are destined for success and longevity. (In the majority of cases.) You're too different.

I don't think we are, I've worked very hard and earned my place at the children's school and our social circles.

Regarding the circus, It wasn't a big thing, it was a throw away remark that he was surprised I'd booked it, I didn't think it was accurate, but then got there and it was tracksuit bottoms wearing parents with kids with part shaved head and I thought that he was probably right.

However, it was cheap £8.50 per ticket so maybe that's the difference.

I grew up working class and have never been to a circus.... my parents couldn't afford it 😂

Circus with animals, roadies, and poorly maintained equipment. Oh who get their crew from cons on parole (yup they do) is very trailer trash.
Cirque du Soleil different kettle of fish.

Circuses are for families of all classes, if they enjoy them. Only people who are insecure in their place in the ‘pecking order’ worry about what activity ‘belongs’ to what class.

Paddington and the Browns are quite well to do, and they went to the circus IIRC.

Bring him to Giffords Circus. It’ll blow his teeny tiny mind.

WHAT😂😂😂😂😂!? Worrying about if taking your KIDS to something that they enjoyed was not “posh enough”😂

Hmm- we live in a fairly upper class area and the circus does come. People visit but it always feels like it’s a bit of a joke- so possibly

Nope. They have been with school I think and stuff but after the first ones, they refused to go again. My oldest is disabled and they often try get him to go at Christmas etc but he refuses. I don't mind if they go or not but they (and I) just don't find that kind of humour funny. We are a very dry family.

Like most male members of the Royal Family when they are at leisure ?

You dont have to be in any sort of class to do or go anywhere.

You had to "earn your place in your social circles"?

What does that even mean?

Well I'm Upper Class/Aristocracy and love a pantomime at christmas