Cross-Atlantic class discourse is always somewhat tricky since a car factory assembly line worker would be considered middle class in the US (based on income) but working class in the UK (based on status.) As a Brit in the US I find it kinda fascinating.
> My perception has always been that America is far more obsessed with class and “keeping up with the Joneses” than Britain.
The US is obsessed with material consumption. As such it probably plays a bigger part in status here than in the UK.
> I guess the point I’m trying to make is the class lines are very blurred in modern day British society except for at the extremes.
Perhaps this is a reflection of increasing university education and the changing nature of work away from factory jobs. In a way it's a move to a more American view of class, where most people are considered 'middle class'.
> As such it’s not something people tend to obsess over.
> I’ve even seen them argue over exactly what constitutes “real” upper middle class compared to regular middle class. Not something I’ve ever seen Brits do.
Brits regularly obsess over whether someone or some hob qualifies as working class or not though!
> My perception has always been that America is far more obsessed with class and “keeping up with the Joneses” than Britain.
The US is obsessed with material consumption. As such it probably plays a bigger part in status here than in the UK.
> I guess the point I’m trying to make is the class lines are very blurred in modern day British society except for at the extremes.
Perhaps this is a reflection of increasing university education and the changing nature of work away from factory jobs. In a way it's a move to a more American view of class, where most people are considered 'middle class'.
> As such it’s not something people tend to obsess over. > I’ve even seen them argue over exactly what constitutes “real” upper middle class compared to regular middle class. Not something I’ve ever seen Brits do.
Brits regularly obsess over whether someone or some hob qualifies as working class or not though!