What class are you? Poll results/discussion

[Deleted User]

Now, parents and offspring don't have to have the same 'class'. It's funny, because my parents are middle-class (maybe upper) with my dad's salary occasionally hitting > 100k and a paid off mortgage on a 4 bed detached house, it would be hard to say otherwise.

BUT - anyone who knows him would tell you he's got a working-class mentality, having grown up in a council estate in the inner city. He puts more in savings/pension every month than I earn, refuses to buy stuff he 'wants' when he can clearly afford it etc..

So, he's clearly displayed 'class mobility' yet stays rooted to his upbringing. I think this is a common thing, and why you can't 'class' yourself based on what your parents believe they are.

The funniest thing is - it doesn't mean a damn thing what class you're in or what you think you are in

Apolobamba

ixwood wrote: »

That's almost painful to read. I found the "Laura Ashley/M & S " bit especially sad. Is your surname Bucket?

It is rather 'sadder' to write someone off because you don't like the shops they go to. I suppose on some levels we ARE now identified purely by our status or choices within consumer society, but you can't be suggesting that that is a GOOD basis to judge people, surely? And what if you are someone who doesn't see much advertising (trust me, it can be done) and doesn't care about the label?

On the basis of my shopping, I am a proud VegetableBoxer, with LocalFarmShoppish parents (so I must be adopted, hey) ... fellow VegetableBoxers unite!

Jennifer_Jane

This is madness - when is the UK ever going to stop talking about class! It should all have disappeared by now. We're all much the same. We all go on holidays overseas, and have TV sets and PC's and things. There's really no difference between us that can, or should be, categorised by 'class'.

For me - looking at the demographic group by occupation - I'm currently a C1 (clerical) and going to be E next year (pensioner). I have two diplomas, one in Marketing and one in Financial Planning, and so on.

Jen
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mitchaa

If you live in a council home and claim welfare benefits you can hardly be classed as anything higher than working class. If you do not work through choice, receive all your income solely from benefits, you are definitely underclass.

However someone from the underclasses ''may'' have better everyday manners than someone in the typical middle class £40k pa job £250k house bracket.

I believe its actually all to do with your mannerisms. A middle class person should always say please and thank you, the working class will be cheers mate, and the underclasses will be..give me fu*kin 1 of them now kind of attitude.

You can go from under to working to middle, if you are doing well for yourself but you need to be born into upper.

Wealth doesn't always associate which class either, look at Wayne Rooney, grew up in a typical Liverpool council estate, now has a few £m in the bank.

All a can of worms really.

Welshwoofs

I tend to think that economic class is a completely different thing to the tradition definition of 'class' and the traditional definition is based on a mixture of ancestry, education and social customs but not money.

The term 'upper class' in my mind is reserved for aristocracy and 'upper middle' to those who, whilst not personally titled, are of an aristocratic family. They almost certainly went to private school and aren't into overt displays of wealth (unlike the Nouveau riche). They probably know the dates various game is in season and which way to pass the port. They'll have 'drawing rooms', 'morning rooms' and 'sitting rooms' but never 'lounges'. They'll eat 'lunch' and 'dinner', never 'dinner' and 'tea'. They sit on 'sofas' and tip soup bowls away from themselves. They'll probably more likely to be shod in Hunter wellies than Jimmy Choos. They'll be found on Scottish estates, but never at corporate shooting days.

The 'middle class' I tend to think of as the professions; doctors, lawyers etc who come from a fairly affluent background, perhaps private school education, but could also be comprehensive. Almost certainly university educated (unlike the upper/upper middle class who may or may not be).

'Upper working' I tend to think of as those who have working class social customs, but have progressed to a higher career level, most likely via university education. State school educated. They probably wouldn't know the ettiquette of whether a professional title comes before or after an ancestral title when addressing an envelope, and probably have a 'settee' in a 'lounge'. They may well have wealth and use it to make life more materially comfortable.

'Working class' - State school educated, no university education. Will almost certainly work in lower level admin jobs, unskilled labour or the trades. May do well financially if in the trades. Same social customs as 'Upper working' - more likely to be found at a football match on a weekend than a polo match.

'Underclass' - The NEETs basically! Those who've never worked (though physically and mentally able to), poorly educated, unskilled, poor parenting skills and almost certainly in social housing.

feelinggood_2

I'd say Lower Middle Class. My husband is University Educated and a very well paid contractor. I don't work, will be a full-time stay-at-home Mum, probably till the kids are all 16+.

Fruball

Tricky debate!!!

It depends on how you judge. Personally I think its more to do with attitude and behaviour than actual money coming in... We don't have much spare money and we work hard for what we have, but we keep up certain standards which my neighbours certainly don't!

I think we fall into the middle class category following the wikipedia link.

However, as someone else said "Class, you either have it or you don't" ... and I like to think I do!

Welshwoofs

I tend to think that economic class is a completely different thing to the tradition definition of 'class' and the traditional definition is based on a mixture of ancestry, education and social customs but not money.

The term 'upper class' in my mind is reserved for aristocracy and 'upper middle' to those who, whilst not personally titled, are of an aristocratic family. They almost certainly went to private school and aren't into overt displays of wealth (unlike the Nouveau riche). They probably know the dates various game is in season and which way to pass the port. They'll have 'drawing rooms', 'morning rooms' and 'sitting rooms' but never 'lounges'. They'll eat 'lunch' and 'dinner', never 'dinner' and 'tea'. They sit on 'sofas' and tip soup bowls away from themselves. They'll probably more likely to be shod in Hunter wellies than Jimmy Choos. They'll be found on Scottish estates, but never at corporate shooting days.

The 'middle class' I tend to think of as the professions; doctors, lawyers etc who come from a fairly affluent background, perhaps private school education, but could also be comprehensive. Almost certainly university educated (unlike the upper/upper middle class who may or may not be).

'Upper working' I tend to think of as those who have working class social customs, but have progressed to a higher career level, most likely via university education. State school educated. They probably wouldn't know the ettiquette of whether a professional title comes before or after an ancestral title when addressing an envelope, and probably have a 'settee' in a 'lounge'. They may well have wealth and use it to make life more materially comfortable.

'Working class' - State school educated, no university education. Will almost certainly work in lower level admin jobs, unskilled labour or the trades. May do well financially if in the trades. Same social customs as 'Upper working' - more likely to be found at a football match on a weekend than a polo match.

'Underclass' - The NEETs basically! Those who've never worked (though physically and mentally able to), poorly educated, unskilled, poor parenting skills and almost certainly in social housing.

Scooby64

Welshwoofs wrote: »

I tend to think that economic class is a completely different thing to the tradition definition of 'class' and the traditional definition is based on a mixture of ancestry, education and social customs but not money.

Completely Right! - any other definition is meaningless. An illitterate footballer doesn't become upperclass just because he earns £Millions, even if he marries [STRIKE]victoria[/STRIKE] I mean a pop [STRIKE]singer[/STRIKE] howler

Euphemia_2

My grandmother says we're working class. She is wrong. The working classes do not have "coasters" in their houses, they do not say "pardon" and "toilet." She's an embarrassing lower middle class with pretensions to middle-middle.