Class system

[stoogmeister]

I know the upper class is the aristocracy, but how are the middle and working classes defined?

[sunflower68]

There are no class divides as such, in my book.  I think property ownership (and size) goes a long way in defining class these days, though for 'class', read 'wealth'.

I think it is outdated to believe in a class system today; we  (although the Daily Mail and its readership would like us to believe otherwise!)

[sunflower68]

Oi AB I  hadn't finished! 

I think these days we are mainly all able to get on in life perfectly well without worrying which class we are from.  We are able to take care of ourselves without the need of what perhaps in previous times were the more learned amongst us being around to help.

By the way I would probably have been a peasant.

[THECORBYLOON]

I am DEFINITELY UPPER CLASS-I post here in an attempt to enlighten the lower classes who have clearly failed in their efforts to remain awake in what passes for education these days. It is a thankless task but I see it as a God-given duty........... 

[Artemis]

I have a title but do not consider myself upper class.

[banth]

In the UK we use a sytem which attributes letters to different classes:

 

"The most common (though now somewhat dated) means of classifying respondents according to socio-economic criteria, based on the occupation of the chief income earner in a household. Classes are A, B, C1, C2, D and E, though these are often grouped into four: AB, C1, C2, DE, or even two: ABC1 and C2DE."

 

This is usually for research purposes I believe, to make data analysis easier.

 

"I wasn't fed with a silver spoon. But I'm rich!"

[ann_h]

Originally had "working Class" ie those who did all the work, and upper class/lords etc who owned everything and lived off the rents/production of the working class.

Middle class came into being relatively recently to describe those who worked but earned and owned property for themselves, shopkeepers for example, or professionals in education and medicine.

It's all subjective - in Greek/Roman times. teachers were very low status indeed, and basically their students' servant.