18 Habits that Society Considers Lower-Class

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By Jonathan Trent

Unfortunately, even in the 21st century, the class war seems to rage on, with certain sections of society unfairly looking down on others because of ingrained behavioral traits and mannerisms. Here are 18 habits that, sadly, society considers to be lower-class.

Free Activities

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Many young parents struggle to afford to entertain their children during the summer holiday period, but thankfully, free activities put on by local authorities can be a lifesaver. Outrageously, some rich snobs look down on this kind of ‘lower-class’ event!

Use of Swear Words

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The use of swear words has always been a trait looked down upon by those who deem themselves to be middle class or above. However, a report in The Independent suggests that curse words can be a sign of heightened intelligence, so feel free to call critics stupid or worse!

Using Public Transport

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Despite public transport being cheaper and better for the environment than taking every journey alone in a car, it’s still seen as a lower-class way of getting to a destination. This way of thinking alienates those who perhaps can’t afford to own their own car or fund the lessons to pass their driving test.

Multi-Generational Households

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Once upon a time, living in a multi-generational household was the norm, with large families coexisting together in the same living space. It is an economically-friendly way to live, saving money for those who would struggle to pay ever-rising rent costs, yet they’re often harshly criticized by posh snobs.

Not Going to College

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Some people graduate from high school and are ready for the working world without any desire to spend the next few years navigating further education. In fact, the appeal of college is waning, according to a CNBC article, suggesting that Americans are becoming increasingly dubious about its worth. The upper class isn’t impressed, though.

Hand-me-Downs

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Wearing secondhand clothing handed down through the generations is another aspect of family life that used to be normal but is now looked down upon. It is a cost-effective way to clothe a family without succumbing to the environmental disaster of fast fashion, so the critics are losing, really. 

DIY Furniture

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With furniture costing a fortune, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go about making furniture your own way. If anything, homemade furniture has more of a charm to it than store-bought furniture and will no doubt end up being worth more than it cost to make, so the upper-class are just jealous!

Manual Labor

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Manual labor jobs such as scaffolding and bricklaying are often looked down upon for no other reason than they don’t need a college degree to take up. Despite this, they are often extremely well paid, especially if you can work your way up to the top of a business.

Being Loud

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A common stereotype about the so-called lower classes deems them to be loud and unable to communicate in a subtle, effective manner. This is purely a simple-minded way of categorizing people for the way they behave in social situations that ultimately has little to do with class. It’s just close-minded.

Living in Untidy Spaces

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While it’s desirable to live in a clean home, some people struggle to maintain such a level of neatness; it has nothing to do with class! Regardless, the rich judge people for it, despite studies suggesting that messiness is a sign of increased creativity and intelligence, as reported in The Guardian.

Using Coupons

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When someone pulls out a coupon book while in the queue at the till, they are often met by judgment from the fellow shoppers behind them. This is despite most Americans using coupons at some point to save themselves a few pennies on their weekly shop. Even if you were rich, why wouldn’t you!?

Gossiping

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Gossiping is wrongly attributed to being a lower-class habit, even though it takes place at all levels of society, from the uppermost classes to the lowest. In all its forms, it’s a generally undesired behavioral trait which many people would prefer not to exist–regardless of class.

Eating Fast Food

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Fast food restaurants, although their food should only be consumed in moderation, are sometimes a quick, cheap, and easy option if you need to feed a family, especially if you have been out and about for the day. Unfortunately, because the menus rarely feature organic ingredients, food-snobs look down upon them.

Wearing Overly Casual Clothing

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Those who see themselves as middle class or higher will often look down on those who leave the house looking ‘too casual,’ even though there are no laws or rules regarding which casual clothing is deemed unacceptable. Thankfully, this trend is likely to reverse as people are given more freedom to be themselves.

Smoking in Public

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There was once a time when smoking was considered classy, especially when tobacco was smoked in a pipe. This continued for decades until only recently; smoking in public is now considered to be low-class! We think the upper class need to make their mind up. 

Visible Tattoos

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Some sections of society are still put off by people having visible tattoos, deeming it to be a lower-class way of looking. While large sections of older people still look down upon tattoos, they will no longer prevent you from progressing in the workplace, as made evident by Forbes. So, who cares!? 

Not Saving For a Pension

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Having a pension plan and saving money for retirement is obviously sensible, although it is wrong to deem someone lower-class if they’re not in a situation where that’s viable. Not every employer grants their employees such a luxury, making it challenging for many, so be kind.

Relying on Government Assistance

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Last on our list, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a stable income, forcing many people to seek government support. Despite this hardship, members of the upper-class still have the audacity to judge people for relying on government benefits. This is an awful attitude; many factors can lead someone into tough financial times.

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