How would you define middle class?

Question

I am a University graduate and am about to embark upon an MBA in October on a part time basis while working. (Im 24).

I would consider myself to have good etiquette and mannerisms.

Am I middle class?

What characteristics/factors constitute middle class?

Im working on a full time salary in University of London. The Department Im working in are paying 50% of the total fees for my MBA degree.

Umm..Im female not male..lol

Answer 1

You seem more upper middle class.

What economic class you are in mostly depends on your education and how much money you make.

Someone with an MBA would usually be in the upper middle class or upper class, since with that type of degree, you would have a better paying job.


For convenience's sake, let's use families as an example here---i.e., two parents and some children.

A lower middle class family would have one parent with a Bachelor's degree at the very most, but usually they only have an Associate's degree, or no post-secondary degree at all. When I was growing up, I fit the standard definition of "lower middle class". My dad's highest education was the GED (high school diploma equivalent), and my mom had two Associate's degrees.

Straight-up middle class is a little bit more, with someone in the family with a Bachelor's degree.

Upper middle class and above would have someone with a Master's degree or a PhD.

Answer 2

In the bad old days of class distinction there were, basically, four classes.

The Upper Class.

Those so rich they didn't need to work and probably had servants. Probably maids, a cook, valet, butler and chauffeur plus a gardener. If the head of the house worked he would be a judge or banker or stockbroker. mainly the landed gentry and lords and such. Children to schools such as Eton and Harrow, then Oxford or Cambridge. possibly a tutor. Owned property abroad.

The Middle Class

These were people who had money but probably had to work to maintain their lifestyle. They may have had a housekeeper and cleaner and owned two or three cars and a large house. Very comfortably off. Children to private schools or good grammar schools. University later. Holidays abroad.

Working Class.

The rest of us. Those who had to work for a living but had regular jobs. Bought houses with mortgages or lived in rented accomodation. Holidays in Blackpool or Southend. Children to state schools and secondary moderns.

Unemployed.

The masses on the dole. Lived on benefits andf had lots of children to get more benefits. Lived in squalid conditions.

In later years people became classified as

A The old 'Upper Classes'
B The old 'Middle Classes
C1 White collar workers/ self employed (Lower Middle Class)
C2 Blue collar workers (Working Class)
D Manual workers
E Those on benefits

These are now generally used ank known as 'Socio-economic groups'

Based on the fact that you are a graduate and should obtain good employment you will, eventually, become a C1 or B. Depends on what your family is now.

Answer 3

The values that people associate with being middle class are sometimes actually shown with more frequency in parts of the working class- eg sitting down for a meal, going to church, not swearing, valuing education. The middle class are sometimes described as being the least secure in their status because the traditional image of them is that they can appear overly concerned with manners and being 'proper'. Having good etiquette and mannerisms is certainly not excluded from the working class- in fact , some middle class people let their educations and a bit of money go to their heads and lose some of their manners. The middle class seem to be over-protective about their children, ferrying them to school in 4x4s.

It is the upper class who you can most rely on , generally, to have good manners, partly because they have little reason to feel inferior about their position in life and partly because of their schooling. The stereotypical view of the upper class is either haughty (which the upper middle class in particular can also be) or an amiable, out of touch, eccentric.

Answer 4

I too consider myself to have etiquette and good manner's, it was how I was brought up in a poor family with no money and a rundown 2 up 2 down house, we existed from day to day , would you consider that middle class, no neither would I, but because you have what you call good etiquette and manners does that make you middle class, no, it does not, it makes you the person you are and you should be grateful of how you were brought up whether it was in some big posh house or a slum, it is what you are taught that matters not were you live.
My definition of middle class; Two bob snobs with sixpence in their purse.

Answer 5

Middle class, in my opinion is having enough to get pay the bills and put food on your table. Having good mannerisms and good etiquette are also good. Being abloe to accept where you are in life, money wise, etc., is a big factor. Just because you make a lot of money doesnt necessatirly make you a "good" person. If you are able to accept those around you for who they and are able to accept whop are in life, that to me is being perfectly normal and if you wnat, middle class.

Answer 6

Middle class is management, maybe a holiday home, £30grand car.

Living pay check to pay check is working class.

' etiquette and mannerisms ' has got nothing to do with class ... but middle class cretins may think so.

Answer 7

Good question what defines middle class? Well if your British the class systems says where you live, your accent, what type fo school you went to. Public School, Grammar etc. Read Jilly Cooper book on the class system in the UK. Its quite funny to read it all about the class system in the UK.

Answer 8

I think of a married couple who both have job skills that bring in
around 60 to 100 thousand as a combined income.

Answer 9

if your poor and cant work your lower class

if your a worker on low to medium income your working class

if your middle class your earning money with a nice car and a home of your own and a high education.

upper class is like the queen of England.

so i hope that kinda helps

Answer 10

You probably are.Middle Class? Well ;it is not about how you earn your living or exam results.You could be a fantastic scholar but speak badly/swear etc.Dress wrongly;either too "flash"or incorrectly for the given occasion;your pastimes come into conversation.so these are important,....flat hat" f...ing "and flying pigeons;...well not exactly dinner conversation!Try "Hunting;Fishing;Shooting!Forget "New Labour"and "Sexual equality."open doors for females,always show them respect. (very difficult sometimes)Remember the old adage "Manners maketh man." Enjoy your life!Good luck.