Do you ever have reason to mention your "class" IRL?

[orangeblossom]

No, can't say that I have.

[spunkarella]

Only in small leadership/student housing groups in college where we were discussing diversity and personal growth.

Does that count as real life?

[livinitup]

Sure. Not in words like "I'm middle class" but when I walk into a DSS office with a client, I am screaming it to everyone. When I walk into a court house and "state my business" as an advocate (not a lawyer), sure.

[july]

Nope

[h]

I had it printed on a t-shirt that I wear regularly so I can avoid any awkward conversations on the topic.

[imojoebunny]

When I opened this, I thought you were talking about "Class of 1990".

I think my Klass is obvious by the PBR I keep in my koozy.

[h]

Feb 28, 2015 19:33:34 GMT -5 h said:

I had it printed on a t-shirt that I wear regularly so I can avoid any awkward conversations on the topic.

Oh my. Apparently such shirts actually exist.

www.zazzle.com/upper_middle_class_shirt-235005173706822507

[v]

Feb 28, 2015 19:51:54 GMT -5 h said:

Feb 28, 2015 19:33:34 GMT -5 h said:

I had it printed on a t-shirt that I wear regularly so I can avoid any awkward conversations on the topic.

Oh my. Apparently such shirts actually exist.

www.zazzle.com/upper_middle_class_shirt-235005173706822507

$30.95 for that?

Not MM.

[cinco]

No. It isn't a big secret among our neighbors, family, friends, basically anyone that knows DH's occupation (or my lack there of)

[h]

Feb 28, 2015 19:56:42 GMT -5 v said:

Feb 28, 2015 19:51:54 GMT -5 h said:

Oh my. Apparently such shirts actually exist.

www.zazzle.com/upper_middle_class_shirt-235005173706822507

$30.95 for that?

Not MM.

But it is being marketed to the upper middle class, who are probably actually upper class because everyone knows "upper middle class" is what you call yourself if you don't want to admit that you have a swimming pool full of gold. So they can afford it. Besides, $30 is a small price to pay to inform anyone who sees you that you are both rich and modest.

[insominac]

That's not really how class works. One doesn't state it (well, unless you're doing one of those educator paradigm unpacking exercises that @kirkette is talking about) but there are dozens of indicators that signal it (e.g., clothes, teeth, profession, college, neighborhood, accessories, speech, diet, exercise).

I've had conversations about class where I've mentioned my own, but that's because I'm a social scientist and we get off on that stuff. Lol

[tacosforlife]

I mean, instead of saying that something is a first world problem, I say that in so bougie hit hurts. But I'm not sure that's what you're talking about.

[audette]

I think the closest I've come is being asked to state my husband's rank. And even that feels weird/uncomfortable...

[WOT?*]

Feb 28, 2015 20:05:15 GMT -5 h said:

Feb 28, 2015 19:56:42 GMT -5 v said:

$30.95 for that?

Not MM.

But it is being marketed to the upper middle class, who are probably actually upper class because everyone knows "upper middle class" is what you call yourself if you don't want to admit that you have a swimming pool full of gold. So they can afford it. Besides, $30 is a small price to pay to inform anyone who sees you that you are both rich and modest.

and in a really ugly font.  No diamonds or bling which the nouveau would appreciate, I am sure, because they don't want people to think they're Paris Hilton rich, just upper 5% (living paycheck-to-paycheck because nannies and second homes and vacations and savings and...) "comfortable."

I want bling with my UMC t-shirt, tyvm.  I'm tacky not-riche.

[Deleted]

Only when talking about background - which comes up sometimes in a "getting to know you" setting. I don't know that I often say "I grew up middle/lower middle class" but I might say something like "my dad worked for the electric company and my mom was a SAHM, so money was tight".

I think it's pretty obvious right now what class I am, so there is really no need or opportunity to bring it up. In the circles I run in/people I actually talk to, we're all middle class anyway. I know a few people whose HHI is probably in the 150k or so range but I don't think I even speak to anyone IRL who is earning a high income or is in poverty.

[cheezer]

I would think it's pretty obvious to anyone I know.

[Dusky]

The closest I've come is mentioning that H and I came from different economic backgrounds when discussing relationships with a friend.

[lime]

Feb 28, 2015 18:52:58 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

Only when talking about my upbringing. I think current status is pretty obvious usually.

+1

Several people, including Jen, mentioned that current class status is obvious. 

I don't think it is with us; we live way, way below our means. I think most people would be shocked if knew our incomes or assets. 

[v]

Mar 1, 2015 12:00:11 GMT -5 lime said:

Feb 28, 2015 18:52:58 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

Only when talking about my upbringing. I think current status is pretty obvious usually.

+1

Several people, including Jen, mentioned that current class status is obvious. 

I don't think it is with us; we live way, way below our means. I think most people would be shocked if knew our incomes or assets. 

Social class shows itself in more ways than just income and assets though.  And even when people live way below their means, or otherwise aren't ostentatious, there are other clues that will fill people in.

[badgergrl]

It's funny this was posted today- not two days ago I had the gbcn status talk with my husband.

He mentioned something about being middle class.
I said we are not middle class.

He said , upper middle class?

I said nope.

He said i don't feel rich.

I then had to fill him in on why j was laughing as I felt like one of these class threads had played out in my living room.

[h]

Mar 1, 2015 12:15:48 GMT -5 v said:

Mar 1, 2015 12:00:11 GMT -5 lime said:

+1

Several people, including Jen, mentioned that current class status is obvious. 

I don't think it is with us; we live way, way below our means. I think most people would be shocked if knew our incomes or assets. 

Social class shows itself in more ways than just income and assets though.  And even when people live way below their means, or otherwise aren't ostentatious, there are other clues that will fill people in.

Yup. Every single time a class discussion of any sort comes up on here, I feel like there is confusion over whether class is purely an economic construct, such that everyone with an income over $X is upper class, or whether there is a social component. To the extent we are talking about social class, there are dozens of indicators, as others have mentioned. If we are using "class" as just another way of saying "income bracket," then I agree that it is harder to discern someone's class from external indicators.

[Deleted]

So we all know middle class and upper middle class... But what are the other classes called?
Low class? High class? Lower middle class?

[niq]

Feb 28, 2015 19:51:54 GMT -5 h said:

Feb 28, 2015 19:33:34 GMT -5 h said:

I had it printed on a t-shirt that I wear regularly so I can avoid any awkward conversations on the topic.

Oh my. Apparently such shirts actually exist.

www.zazzle.com/upper_middle_class_shirt-235005173706822507

Is there one that says "... when you adjust for high COL" on the back? Because that's something I would give as a P-A gift to several people I know. And not just people on this board

[lys]

No, and I can't begin to imagine an conversation that would require that.

[azurely]

Only when talking about how I grew up.

[daisypaloma]

I don't think we've ever had to bring it up in any type of conversation.  But then again, pretty much anyone in our circle can tell people apart as far as those who have and the "have nots".  DH and I are around the middle; more or less.  The differences did not have to be explicit.

Funny because I was just thinking about this the other day;I grew up dirt poor, so some things are still fairly new territory to me; so there's this obvious disparity in background when I converse with people who talk about vacation homes as if that's something that everyone grew up with.  We could barely pay rent during my childhood days.

[Emerald1486]

Mar 1, 2015 22:06:39 GMT -5 azurely said:

Only when talking about how I grew up.

Pretty much this. My group of friends will discuss how we grew up and how that affects our perceptions and choices today.