Are you top of the class?

My lovely mum thought eating in the street was dead common, so we bought our bags of chips at the shop furthest away and made sure we finished them before we got home!

My mother was the same, and smoking was even worse.
At school we always had to wear a hat outside even if it was summer and we were in mufti

My headmistress had an odd fixation with oranges. Eating "the anti-social fruit" in the street would probably have meant immediate expulsion.

I see there is still a lot of steam generated about class, in particular as it is seen to be influenced by money. I don't think some people have read the pages about the different aspects of class - financial class, cultural class, social class - which this survey amalgamated to get the results.

"Schooling, housing, work and access to the best of services" take you ionto a better class? But my education cost my parents nothing, I lived in cuoncil houses until I married, work level depended on the education I achieved and the ethics my parents instilled in me, and my health has depended entirely on the NHS and my own lifestyle (plus a bit of luck) My financial input got me into "Traditional Working Class" but my choice of ways to spend my money - and my time - made me "Elite"

So money is not everything. People are three-dimensional, not brightly painted cardboard cutouts with their income printed across their foreheads.

Back to the LIGHTHEARTED thread, unless anyone would prefer to shift it into the political topic?

Oh I'd forgotten about white shoes-I soo wanted white stilettos! But only common girls wore them! And eating in the street, we had regular talks in assembly about what would happen should anyone be found eating in the street wearing school uniform. Isn't it funny 'common' is probably never used now, not in the way it was then.

I had five great aunts who decided to take the place of my grandmother who died before I was born and i was named for her. I had the lot, from handkerchief to crossing legs , sitting, standing, dressing, speaking to people, eating in the street would have been a hanging offence and one swear word would mean eternal damnation , but I loved them

Thank you Elegran I gave been reading your piste with interest and take your points exactly.

When I bought myself a pair of white stilettos, my father reacted as if I was selling my body on the streets! After a muddy day at Henley Regatta, the stilettos were never white again and had to be dyed black which was less offensive to Dad.

A friend with younger children & teenagers told me that these days the concept of class means nothing to them. I suggest that when they find themselves in a situation where classwise, they are in the minority, and made to feel awkward about it, then they will be made aware of class distinction, which is very much alive in our society.

I came out as Established Middle Class which is a great laugh I'm working class and always have been.

"New affluent worker". Crikey! The explanation says this often applies to young people. I'm retired, but DH is not so I suppose it's down to him. We would both happily claim to be working class. I am American and I wonder if it's true, as Elegran mentions, that there is much more mobility between classes here than there is now in the US? I don't know, I've been away too long.

I came out as technical middle class. Quite a new classification for me but as we as a family have a scientific background it makes sense. Its a simple survey after all. Just passes the time......

leurmamie There was an article in the New York times about mobility.

I'm technical middle class and completely baffled!

I came out as traditional working class, but as someone said earlier it was probably because of our low income as pensioners.
There wasn't any question on education level, which used to be an indicator of social class.

I dont think I have EVER read such rubbish as this in all my 85 years on this earth. It tells me I am ELITE.

....................
"Elite

This is the wealthiest and most privileged group in the UK. According to the Great British Class Survey results, lots of people in this group:

Enjoy high cultural activities such as visiting museums and listening to classical music
Went to private school and elite universities
Socialise with people who do a wide variety of jobs"
...................................

I was an evacuee from the London Blitz after being bombed out twice from one of the poorest parts of London. I left school at 14 after being taught in a derelict Baptist Church that was turned into an evacuee school with three teachers one of who was nearly blind.I have had one or two different jobs in my lifetime but never had a lot of money. As for ruddy universities I have only seen the outside of them. Yes I DO like some classical music but nothing TOO heavy.
I have made many friends over the years from my WW2 website which includes many professional folk such as doctors, teachers and lorry drivers and many other lovely folk from all walks of life but that DOES not make me ELITE.
As for wealth!!!!! my wealth is my lovely family NOT money in a ruddy bank and at my age if I visited a museum they would keep me in.

Maywalk Well said!

I think a lot depends on your income/house value and amount of savings. I came out as traditional working class. I am a retired Civil Servant, widowed so no partner to add to my income and have modest savings due to a move of house recently.