A third of Britons believe they have changed social class, survey finds | Class issues
More than a third of Britons say they have changed their social class, according to a survey; People in the upper-middle and upper classes are most likely to identify as belonging to more than one class.
The study by research firm Attest found that working-class people were least likely to say they had changed classes or identified with more than one person; 70% said they were in the same social category as they were born into.
Researchers coined the term “multi-class” to describe the equivalent of 6 million Britons identified as belonging to more than one class at the same time.
The survey of 2,000 people also revealed deep-seated sensitivity to the issue; Almost half of respondents said they felt judged by their class, and most prioritized social class over age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation in terms of how they thought others saw them.
Dominic Abrams, professor of social psychology and director of the Center for Research on Group Processes at the University of Kent, said he thought the term “multiclass” was useful at a time when class boundaries were much blurrier than in previous generations.
Traditional classifications, such as ABC1, denoting the middle classes, were no longer necessarily signs of belief or attitude, or even signs of class.
“The so-called class harmony with the different political parties seems to be breaking down. [traditional categorisations are] “It’s not very useful anymore,” Abrams said. “I think the broader perception now is that if you want to act and you have the resources to do it, you can do it. “A lot of people say they changed classes.”
This perspective is particularly evident among millennials, according to the survey; Nearly half say they have become a different class or identify as belonging to more than one class. Working-class people were least likely to change classes.
Abrams said: “Working-class people tend to have more permanent and stable cultural roots because they can be more rooted in where they are. It’s a value they’re more likely to reinforce. The question is whether they can use that as a tool in their arsenal to negotiate the environments they’re in, or whether it becomes a burden because they feel judged for it.”
Working-class people tended to say they changed the way they behaved or spoke to fit in with other social or professional groups; but a third of working-class people said they did not feel the need to change to fit in with another group.
Separate research from the Sutton Trust found that there is a “happiness gap” between social classes, with working-class people who go on to find good jobs never catching up to their middle- or upper-class peers in the happiness stakes.
People from working-class backgrounds are a third more likely to have poor health than those with professional backgrounds, the report says.
Those who moved into higher status jobs became happier, but the research found that those from more affluent backgrounds still had the highest levels of well-being. They were also protected from the effects of downward mobility because they likely had financial safety nets, the researchers said.
Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, said social mobility “hugely improves people’s lives but does not always guarantee happiness”.
He added: “Even as people climb the social ladder, their long-term well-being is still shaped by where they start. Opportunity and life satisfaction are about much more than just pay, promotions and property. Family and friends, levels of education, community ties and work-life balance all play their part.”
“Where you come from should not determine how happy your life will be. To break this bond, we need to eliminate inequality in education, open access to careers and invest in communities. Opportunities to advance in life and enjoy greater levels of well-being must be truly open to everyone.”
