A social class expert has broken down the clear signs that can reveal whether someone comes from a wealthy background.
TikToker Dani Payne, who focuses on education and politics, took to the platform to share with her followers how to spot if someone is from a middle or upper class family based on everyday interactions.
Whether or not it’s particularly useful, there’s no denying it’s fun to have a little snoop — after all, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of people watching?
The conversation kicked off when one of Dani’s followers asked: “Can you give an example of the kinds of rules or cues that would clearly signal to someone in the middle class that a person comes from a working class background?”
Payne, who is based in the UK, explained that she had actually conducted a study on the subject and admitted she was “absolutely fascinated” by it. She then went on to break down what the question really means.
There’s some tell-tale signs as to how to tell where someone is in terms of social class (Getty stock)
Payne explained, “There are many different ways someone might signal that they belong to, or come from, a particular class background. A lot of the theory behind this comes from a French sociologist named Bourdieu, who introduced the concept of cultural capital.”
“Essentially, it refers to how the upper and elite classes accumulate certain resources, experiences, and types of knowledge that subtly indicate to others that they belong to a privileged group.”
She went on to say that these indicators have evolved over time. With more people now having access to college degrees and higher education, the focus has shifted to what people actually talk about.
“So, the upper and middle classes had to find new ways to signal their status — and one of those ways is through behavior,” Payne added.
Activities like skiing is an indicator (Getty stock)
“So like, how do you act? How do you talk, for example, and that’s not just accent, although accent is a really big thing in the UK, but it’s also, what are you talking about? Do you know what’s polite conversation? Do you know it’s extremely impolite to ask about money and wealth, etc? Do you have a wide vocabulary? Are you well read and well spoken?
“All of these things signal kind of allegiance to a certain certain class structure. Another is experiences and like, membership to certain, like, elite groups.”
Payne detailed how activities like going to art galleries, ski holidays and other cultural things help determine your class, as well as knowing which is the best course to apply for at college, how to apply for a job and so on.
She added, “All of this means that even if you have the same grades and educational background as someone from a middle or upper class background, they still hold an inherent advantage because they’ve learned these unspoken social rules.”
“They know how to present themselves, how to make their voices heard, and how to navigate the education and employment systems — and that gives them a built-in edge in life.”
