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> On a related note, I think the US approach to dismissing class is preferable to the UK where it’s very explicit. Huh. My perception has always been that Amer

by 2cb 5y ago

> On a related note, I think the US approach to dismissing class is preferable to the UK where it’s very explicit. Huh. My perception has always been that America is far more obsessed with class and “keeping up with the Joneses” than Britain. That said, I have in the past been called “rich” in a derogatory manner just for owning an iPad. But that’s more an amusing anecdote than social commentary. I find this type of thing to be the exception rather than the norm. For context I’m a Brit with a decent job but my family is certainly not upper middle class or even middle class and all my friends are working class because those are the people I naturally get along with. For the most part the fact I make more money doesn’t cause any friction in those social circles. One of my mates even said to me if he didn’t know better he’d assume I lived on a council estate. I guess the point I’m trying to make is the class lines are very blurred in modern day British society except for at the extremes. As such it’s not something people tend to obsess over. On the other hand I’ve found that, in general, middle class Yanks tend to care more about being perceived a certain way so people know they’re middle class or upper middle class or whatever else. I’ve even seen them argue over exactly what constitutes “real” upper middle class compared to regular middle class. Not something I’ve ever seen Brits do.

laurencerowe 5y ago
Cross-Atlantic class discourse is always somewhat tricky since a car factory assembly line worker would be considered middle class in the US (based on income) but working class in the UK (based on status.) As a Brit in the US I find it kinda fascinating. > My perception has always been that America is far more obsessed with class and “keeping up with the Joneses” than Britain. The US is obsessed with material consumption. As such it probably plays a bigger part in status here than in the UK. > I guess the point I’m trying to make is the class lines are very blurred in modern day British society except for at the extremes. Perhaps this is a reflection of increasing university education and the changing nature of work away from factory jobs. In a way it's a move to a more American view of class, where most people are considered 'middle class'. > As such it’s not something people tend to obsess over. > I’ve even seen them argue over exactly what constitutes “real” upper middle class compared to regular middle class. Not something I’ve ever seen Brits do. Brits regularly obsess over whether someone or some hob qualifies as working class or not though!

by 2cb 5y ago

laurencerowe 5y ago

Cross-Atlantic class discourse is always somewhat tricky since a car factory assembly line worker would be considered middle class in the US (based on income) but working class in the UK (based on status.) As a Brit in the US I find it kinda fascinating. > My perception has always been that America is far more obsessed with class and “keeping up with the Joneses” than Britain. The US is obsessed with material consumption. As such it probably plays a bigger part in status here than in the UK. > I guess the point I’m trying to make is the class lines are very blurred in modern day British society except for at the extremes. Perhaps this is a reflection of increasing university education and the changing nature of work away from factory jobs. In a way it's a move to a more American view of class, where most people are considered 'middle class'. > As such it’s not something people tend to obsess over. > I’ve even seen them argue over exactly what constitutes “real” upper middle class compared to regular middle class. Not something I’ve ever seen Brits do. Brits regularly obsess over whether someone or some hob qualifies as working class or not though!