Class can be understood as, ‘the classification of society and its people into groups that are hierarchically related.’ It is mostly defined by socio-economic status or level of income, educational attainment, and social networks/connections. Class frequently overlaps with where people live/are from and the job you and your family have. For many, it is a difficult and emotionally charged topic to discuss openly.
Class is not one of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010. However, this does not mean that class and discrimination based on class do not exist.
In the UK class is usually divided into upper, middle, working, and lower class – and who or why someone is in what class can sometimes not be clear, but if often deeply felt or perceived, often with long historical connections. In contrast, the US would primarily define class by personal wealth, and ‘upper class’ would include anyone with a sufficiently high level of income to support an "upper class" lifestyle and education and have little to do with where they or their family are from.
Some examples of discrimination against class can include making comments on:
- The way someone speaks, e.g., accent, pronunciation, vocabulary, sentence structure
- Where someone comes from (place of birth, developmental history) or lives (current address)
- Level of income, or implied judgement of lifestyle
Supporting resources for students
The 93% Club Edinburgh is a society that is dedicated to promoting access and opportunity for socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged students at the University of Edinburgh.
Tackling Elitism is a group for University of Edinburgh students who are from a low-income background, first-generation students, working class, estranged, and/or care experienced, and who are driven to tackle persistent elitism.