Lockdown is where middle-class people hide and working-class people bring them stuff

[havanacabana]

I’ve seen this quote on twitter a few times and realised there is actually a lot of truth to it. IRL most of the people I know who are truly able to ‘hide away’ are the middle-class, privileged ones who are currently on furlough or working from home. People I know on minimum wage are the ones having to go out and mix at work in supermarkets, takeaways, warehouses etc. to keep everything going.

Communism could solve that for you.

Broadly.

I'd bet a pound to penny its middle class people posting it, they're so comfortablyself aware.

Is there not enough division in the world at the moment?

Basically true. Just look at the occupations of the people most likely too catch the virus. Let alone die.

People I know on minimum wage are the ones having to go out and mix at work in supermarkets, takeaways, warehouses etc. to keep everything going.

Well yes, obviously

But I disagree that it's just middle class people on furlough or working from home.

I live in a very working class area and lots of people I know have been furloughed or are (like myself) working from home.

Yep. Upper middle class people crowing about how necessary and holy lockdown restrictions are while everyone else continues to go to work and/or loses their jobs.

For example, none of the bar staff, hairdressers, waiting staff and hotel staff I know are middle class.

Yet they've all been furloughed. My SIL is a cleaner in a University and she's been furloughed for the 3rd time.

Some truth. Read The Hunger Gap.

That said an awful lot of middle class healthcare professionals are working and going to working class people’s homes.

Well there's some truth to it. But unless working class people have suddenly started crocheting their own food, they're still using supermarkets, takeaways, amazon, etc too.

You could also say lockdown is where the jobs of people in supermarkets, takeaways and warehouses become that bit safer from infection because the people who don't need to be in those places aren't (compared to when lockdown isn't happening).

That doesn't change the fact that if you can wfh right now you're safer, of course you are. But it's not a privilege of the middle class as a block, it's down to what type of job you do. Try telling teachers and hospital doctors that their jobs are privileged right now from the point of view of avoiding infection.

I've done both types of job and yes I am relieved to be in the safer wfh job now. I don't see how it would help the people in my old job if I was out and about now though. The country being out of lockdown is actually more dangerous for people in that type of minimum wage job than being in lockdown, unless infections are right down to really low levels. More people being out, if there was no lockdown, would make the jobs of my ex-colleagues more risky, not safer.

I'm not aware that it's mainly middle class jobs being furloughed, either. As far as I know that's more likely to be jobs like hospitality.

It's a nice simplistic little slogan because we're all having to stay at home and get things delivered. Bear in mind though that the minimum wage supermarket people are also ordering takeaways and Amazon parcels. It's does feel a bit unnecessarily divisive.

Yes, all those working class doctors...

What a warped opinion!

Statistically speaking there is a lot of truth in this, and it is reflected in the spatial /social distribution of cases too.

But there are pockets of the middle classes still working outside the home as well. Just from my own family and friends- teachers, judges, lawyers, doctors, nurses, scientists...

Not sure its totally true, the head of our girls schools are both in school, I suspect they won't be the only ones. All of the catering staff at their school have been furloughed for most of the year.

Not sure doxtors would be classed as working class? Bar staff are mainly furloughed do you class them as working or middle class? What about shop workers where do thry fit in your class diagram? Many of those are on furlough? My youngest daughters nursery have throughout the year had staff on furlough.

All of our admin assistants and reception staff are working from home, are they middle class or working class?

What about the PM and supporting ministers who frequently are working away from home are they simply working class?

Who is and is not working from home is far more complex than class, but class is a lovely little divisive description that brings resentment to society so thus the tweet.

I'm dependent on benefits so get to stay at home and 'hide'. Does that make me and my kids middle class?

@DumplingsAndStew

I'm dependent on benefits so get to stay at home and 'hide'. Does that make me and my kids middle class?

Yup, SAHP here, DH WFH since March, Def working class but apparently I just got an upgrade. Can someone tell my bank account?

@KeyboardWorriers

Statistically speaking there is a lot of truth in this, and it is reflected in the spatial /social distribution of cases too.

But there are pockets of the middle classes still working outside the home as well. Just from my own family and friends- teachers, judges, lawyers, doctors, nurses, scientists...

Yes, you’ve explained it better than me. Obviously there are still going to be examples of more privileged people going out to work and vice versa.

I think my husband is middle class and he's been face to face teaching SEND kids since last March! Probably worked longer hours than you!

@lovelemoncurd

I think my husband is middle class and he's been face to face teaching SEND kids since last March! Probably worked longer hours than you!

Tell him now working class and dock his wages

I think that when we come down to analysing the figures, we will see a dreadful statistic. I think many more working class people have died than middle class.

I see much concern over teacher welfare (not a pop. Love you guys) but I also see that nobody is starting petitions about the safety of supermarket workers, warehouse workers, bus drivers etc. I am working class, have worked in a building of 100 plus every day since the pandemic started. Nobody gives a shit. I know my role is essential but it does seem that some of us are more valuable than others.

Who is and is not working from home is far more complex than class, but class is a lovely little divisive description that brings resentment to society so thus the tweet.

Yes - and then to add to that divisiveness there's the word 'hide', neatly implying cowardice, when actually it would help no one if the people who can wfh were actually out mixing. There's nothing brave about going out if you don't need to in a lockdown, especially if in doing so you risk bringing the virus with you to the very people whose jobs mean they don't have any choice but to be out.

Were they not explicitly and repeatedly told to stay at home for everyone's health?

I mean, you have a point that many of the lowest paid jobs are ones that involve still going out and about but I hate this narrative that you can then have a go at middle classes for staying at home exactly as they've been repeatedly asked to.

@Fattydoggy

I think that when we come down to analysing the figures, we will see a dreadful statistic. I think many more working class people have died than middle class.

I see much concern over teacher welfare (not a pop. Love you guys) but I also see that nobody is starting petitions about the safety of supermarket workers, warehouse workers, bus drivers etc. I am working class, have worked in a building of 100 plus every day since the pandemic started. Nobody gives a shit. I know my role is essential but it does seem that some of us are more valuable than others.

www.itv.com/news/2020-06-05/petition-in-support-of-railway-worker-signed-by-million-plus-people

www.change.org/p/transport-for-london-ppe-for-all-tfl-frontline-staff

I think you're right that more working class people will turn out to have died, but I'm not sure you're right about the petitions. What's your industry and what would you want to be better? I would sign a petition for any workplace to be safer.

@havanacabana

I’ve seen this quote on twitter a few times and realised there is actually a lot of truth to it. IRL most of the people I know who are truly able to ‘hide away’ are the middle-class, privileged ones who are currently on furlough or working from home. People I know on minimum wage are the ones having to go out and mix at work in supermarkets, takeaways, warehouses etc. to keep everything going.

So not true, bearing mind all the glaring exceptions cited here.

All the admin staff at my school WFH and the catering team are furloughed. I’m a teacher and although WFH 4 days a week I’m in school 2 day, SLT are in each day and I think they earn way more than minimum wage!