Who Are The Working Class?

[naomi24]

Well?

[rockyracoon]

I have never ever understood the class system, working class, middle class blah blah. It’s ridiculous

[Denton]

Me,until I Retired.

[Apc2604]

People who work¡

[pixie374]

I'm not sure classes still exist? That's quite old-fashioned.

[bhg481]

They are the useful members of society. The middle class mess about organising them and the upper class cream off the benefits of the work they do.

[Zacs-Master]

Anyone who wears a tie whist shovelling sh@#.

[pixie374]

I've never worn a tie...

[Buenchico]

[naomi24]

Serious question. We hear a lot about the 'working class' and how hard done by they are, but who are they?

[Mamyalynne]

I quite like this simple analogy, though it is from an American.

//RICH HALL, a US stand-up comic, explained: when you go to work in the morning, if your name is on the front of the building, you're upper class; if your name is on your desk, you're middle class; and if your name is on your shirt, you're working class.//

[sevenOP]

Very good question.

They are a 'construct', deriving from those who emerged from slavery and then emerged from serfdom and became wage slaves.

[barry1010]

I well remember this question being asked of the general public in a serious tv show, wish I could remember which one, it was several years ago.

A woman replied, 'I ain't no working class, I don't work, do I? I've bin on the dole since I left school'.

Maybe not the exact words she used, but it made me laugh

[Buenchico]

On the 5-class socio-economic model (see middle column of my link), I've always thought of classes 1, 2 and 3 as being 'middle class', with classes 4 and 5 being 'working class':
http://www.upl.co/uploads/Class1586794153.jpg

However I've known many people working in 'the professions' (such as teachers) who prefer to see themselves as 'working class'.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Historically the working classes were those who worked in physica labour for others, This also included trades that serviced the working classes, that would own their own business such as Shopkeepers, plumbers,blacksmiths etc. Middle Classes would make a living using their brains rather than brawn -teachers bank managers etc, and Upper classes were old money landed gentry.
This has all changed as far as I'm concerned although not into a classless society far from it. Its lazy journalism, or perhaps political correctness to refer to 'The working class(es) when really they are referring to low paid workers with no job security. Maybe we should find another word. My 19 year old son has no concept of working/middle/upper class structures and I'l like this generation to keep it that way.
Having lived in a Society (North America) that has no class system -save for celebrity but anyone can become a celebrity- its very refreshing.

[pixie374]

Apg, I'm 46, and the class system was before my time...

[ynnafymmi]

Most of the working-class i know have never done a days work in their lives and have no intention of ever doing so.The middle class are the new working class.The old-style working class are a new different class altogether.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Pixie you are joking right? The class system along with sexual inequality and all the rest of the dross was very much around even 30 years ago

[ProfessorMaisie]

So much rubbish, and this is just page1.

If you are British and have no idea that the British class system is very much alive and kicking, then you are probably Middle-Class and complacent - because the Middle-Classes (post-World War II) have done very well... so far.

[retrocop]

I don't know about you lot but I'm in a class of my own.

[pixie374]

No, apg... all I know about it is what I have seen on AB, and I don't seem to fit into any "class" . Anyone got any definitions for each one? Please x