Why in the UK do they say middle class to describe what the rest of the world would call upper-middle class?

Question

The British call people in the well-off and highly educated professional and managerial classes, "Middle-Class," whereas Americans would call these people "Upper Middle-Class." Yet Americans call even factory labourers and mechanics "Middle-Class." The British and the rest of the world would call these people "working-class." Why is there such disparity and confusion regarding social stratification on the world stage?

Answer 1

Because in Britain there is the Nobility. The upper class in Britain is really in the middle.

Answer 2

After perusing the answers and having only an American perspective what struck me was the Semantics answer to the Middle Class/Working Class in America. America is very P.C.said the answerer. True, true, all true. Now more than ever in the Dilbert Cubicle Dwellers land. As if all people who work are in Dilbert P.C. Cubicles which is so far from the working man/woman truth it's bizarre. Anyhow, I believe it all stems back from asking a woman "if she's a working girl"? which is such a derogatory term of the highest whoreist magnitude. Using one's body and muscles to work with in general, is considered by the DCS (dilbert cubicle suits)the lowest of the low. One should not aspire to this. One should aspire to wearing a suit or skirt. This mindset is pervasive throughout this thinking culture. As if construction workers, plumbers, journeymen etc, who by the way make quite decent living for themselves, are going to be obsolete any time soon. Yes yes, I believe in the buffed nailed theory and the dirt under the finger nails theory of Middle Class Americans. All of whom are not the same and there is no shame in getting dirty dirt under your fingernails.

Answer 3

Well...traditionally in the UK, the term Upper class, the people at the very top of the social strata, would refer to aristocracy, people born with titles etc.
Lacking this traditional rigid class structure, America has more of a tradition of social mobility than the UK-the American dream, to make anything of yourself. Being a relatively new country, the US has never had true royalty. So to them, who can truly said to be upper class?
UK has a particularly strange obsession with class-for instance, the majority of people must be middle class due to income and education, but virtually everybody you meet claims to have working class roots, as this is perceived to be more of a genuine identity.
Hope this all makes sense, Ive only just woke up. Think I need another cup of tea.

Answer 4

One of the difficulties in answering this question is an understanding of the word "class". For some this may mean socio-economic ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socio-economic ) so that governments can define groups of people for the sake of taxation and demographics; and for others it may mean position within a set of cultural mores as defined by Jilly Cooper in Class or Nancy Mitfords U and Non_U and then again something in between.
So Class in the Uk is very often defined in governement by socioeconomics but within groups themselves by cultural mores (the way words are pronounced or the way you hold a knife and fork or whther you say living room sitting room or drawing room and so on)
This may be in some way a peculiarity of island culture, like the Japanese knowing social status and just how far to bow.
Jilly Cooper would probably say this has been slowly eradicated by the "tellystocracy" and is lsowly becoming meaningless but I beleive the myth lives on...because the stories we tell about ourselves eventually define us.

Answer 5

three possible reasons readily come into mind:
1.) Differences in societal values attached to the different kinds of "wealth" a person possess. ex: while both net worth and profession are values are considered beneficial to one's social status, there is a differece in how much value they contribute to a person's level in society. Net worth and the resulting level of lifestyle is more highly regarded in America, whilst the type proffession and level of education is more highly valued by British standards, as i understand it.

2.) Semantics

3.) Americans tend to be PC about everything. Someone might get offended at being called "working class."

Answer 6

It's because the rest of the world has got it wrong of course. Just remember, people who work with their hands are manual workers, or working class. Those who don't get their hands dirty and who service the "upper" or moneyed classes are middle class. Class distinctions were constructed by the moneyed classes, it's like the caste system in India, a way of segregating people.

Answer 7

This class system is way out of date with the reality of society today.

Just think, plumbers who would be known as working class make a heck of a lot more money than your average professional, may well afford to live a more comfortable lifestyle than the rest of us.

But do we call them middle class? No, just because they work with their hands.

Answer 8

This is not endemic to the UK. It abounds is most countries previously colonised by the British.

I always thought (at age10) that farmers were "landed gentry". Imagine my surprise when I first picked up a sociology text (at age 15)and found farmers and agricultural workers were regarded as the lowest class of all

Answer 9

UK upper classes used to be noble men with ties to royalty or titled people such as Earls Dukes Barons etc. Bieng a successful businesman or merchant would make you middle class.

Answer 10

i'm a school student, so for sure i'm decrease type. Me and my fiance- decrease type with upward mobility, my kinfolk decrease type. besides the undeniable fact that, I attend college. My mom offered a sparkling vehicle. My fiance and that i will pay our expenses and the in trouble-free terms debt we've is my student loans (ideal) and we in trouble-free terms basically all began 6 months in the past. i imagine that the definition of operating, decrease, center and top type is warped, and persons do not supply the operating and reduce training as a lot credit as is using them. basically because they are member of this manner does no longer advise that they are lazy, uneducated, a minority, addicts or some thing else. It does advise that they ought to paintings a touch harder for what they prefer to seize up financially with others. this isn't a nasty question for my area, yet one which would want to be responded, regardless of if with reviews. more beneficial advantageous this question then one about "What colour ought to I dye my hair" or "what's the most ideal quick food resturant".

Answer 11

The answer is quite simple ENGLAND and the rest of the OLD WORLD know and have had,( or not ,as the case may be ) class for thousands of years.
Were as you 'YANKS" IN THE NEW WORLD ORDER would not know true class if it slapped you on the butt.
Top class to you is a hollywood actor in a tuxedo,or an expensive house or car.
You make your vows to a FLAG !!!!!!!!!!
You tell the rest of the world how good you are,and in GOD you trust.
Well the rest of the world does not trust you,most do not even like you and your loud boasting.
We have the biggest everything,we are the best at everything, oh yes who says so well only another YANK OF COURSE.

True class is not about monies it is about respect for your fellow man:kindess,charity and unconditional love.