In a class of my own
I think Britain’s class system is out-dated, but it’s is still a big influence over millions of people’s lives. The working classes are supposed to be the uncouth, beer drinking proletariat with few manners and little culture. While the middle classes aspire to be like their lords and masters; the upper classes. (more…)
Working Class? Who me?
The majority of people in the UK saw themselves as ‘working class’ at one time. The class structure of society was clear, the doctors, teachers and administrators were middle class, the aristocracy was upper class and the people who did the real work were working class. Now it’s more confused.
Social structure and the pecking order
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Social structure is often divided into three strata, upper class, middle class and working class. Otherwise known as the rich, the middle income group and the poor. These different classes are often sub-divided. The rich can be aristocrats, those who inherited wealth or the capitalists who invest and have great wealth and power.
Pudding, sweet or dessert?
I have been thinking about the British class system this week. Apparently the upper classes say pudding and the middle classes say sweet. I tend to say dessert, not that I have one very often. I do try to have fruit after meals, but often forget. We did say pudding when we were kids, we had pudding too to fill us up. I thought we were working class, perhaps I was wrong; I could have been upper class all this time and not have known it? The coat of arms for my family name is on sale on EBay for $113.00, the very rare print from the 1700’s is on sale in Texas. I wonder if I should snap it up? (more…)
Creativity in the Black Country?
The BBC
I watched Melvyn Bragg on Class and Culture and he seemed to be suggesting that the class barriers have been broken down. Like hell they have! He did feature Sue Townsend, who wrote the Adrian Mole books. I don’t think she has betrayed her working class culture, even though she has become a little middle class; she has made some money. (more…)
The Post Code lottery
Unequal Britain
In Britain your post code; where you live, tends to determine a lot of things. How you are viewed by society in general and by public servants in particular. It tends to determine whether you get a good education, good health care, a decent job and equal opportunities in life. It also determines the way you speak and the way you behave. It can even determine whether you are polite or not! (more…)
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