• Question: I was watching a programme called \'Peckam Finishing School\' about the division of the classes in modern society. Obviously we\'ve moved on from the times of The Titanic and My Fair Lady but how much to you think the classes are split, what class would you put yourself in and do you thionk there is anything wrong with being posh? Love Joanna xxxxx

    Asked by alicejoanna97 to Gioia, Iain, Jo, Leo, Mariam on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Leo Garcia

      Leo Garcia answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      I wouldn’t claim to have any specific knowledge about this which could help answer your question. I think that the issue of ‘class’ is very hard to define, and what causes ‘class division’ is a complex social question. Certainly not for me to comment on – maybe when there is an ‘”I’m a Sociologist Get Me Out of Here!” you can ask them!

    • Photo: Gioia Cherubini

      Gioia Cherubini answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      I also watched the program and I found it quite interesting.
      I come from what could be described as a working class background, but education has allowed me to meet lots of people from many different backgrounds and the more I meet, the more people appear to be exactly the same, regardless of what ‘class’ they come from.
      I don’t think there is anything wrong per se in being posh, you shouldn’t really feel guilty for having the luck of being born in a wealthy family. Neither it is wrong to come from a more modest background.
      The main problem that I have seen from the program yesterday is that both sides had a lot of prejudices towards the other “class” and none of them could really open their eyes to see things from a different point of view. So, as long as you can keep an open mentality about other’s people situation, there’s nothing wrong with where you come from

    • Photo: Joanna Watson

      Joanna Watson answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      I’m not sure I know what class I would be in. I’m from what I guess you would call a working-class family, but now I’m a scientist at Oxford University. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being posh or not posh as long as you respect other people.

    • Photo: Mariam Orme

      Mariam Orme answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Interesting question.
      From talking to friends of mine from the USA and Canada, it seems that we have a bigger class split here than they do there – or at least that it’s harder to become successful if you’re from a lower class in this country.
      I suppose I would say that I’m from a lower-middle class background, and no, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being posh – as long as you don’t look down on other people who aren’t posh.

Comments

  • Photo: alicejoanna97

    alicejoanna97 commented on :

    Thank you for your comments, I guess it was quite a hard question and I didn’t mean to sound pompous, I, myself am not posh just normal 🙂 and yes, I’ll get back to science and cancer research questions!!! Love, Joanna xxxxx