Perceptions of Social Class (trends)
Q Most people say they belong either to the middle class or to the working class. Which of these best describes you, middle class or working class? Q And which social class would you say your parents belonged to when you started primary school?
Q Most people say they belong either to the middle class or to the working class. If you had to make a choice, would you call yourself middle class or working class?*
| May 1981 | 1986 | 2-13 March 1989‡ | 7-25 March 1991 | 22 August 1991 | 18-21 October 1996 | 2 June 2000 | 7-9 April 2005 | 7-9 March 2008† | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| Working Class | 63 | 66 | 67 | 65 | 61 | 61 | 58 | 57 | 52 |
| Middle Class | - | 28 | 30 | 29 | - | 32 | 35 | 40 | 44 |
| Middle/Upper Class | 28 | - | - | - | 30 | - | - | - | - |
| Don't know | 9 | - | - | 6 | 9 | - | - | - | 3 |
| Neither/Don't know | - | 5 | 4 | - | - | 7 | 7 | 3 | - |
| Refused | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
*In 2008 asked as "Most people say they belong either to the middle class or to the working class. Which of these best describes you, middle class or working class?" In 1981 and August 1991 asked as: "Do you ever think of yourself as belonging to a particular social class? (If yes) Which class is that? (If no) Most people say they belong either to the middle class or to the working class. If you had to make a choice, would you call yourself middle class or working class?" Base: c. 600-1,500 GB adults aged 18+ except: †Base: 1,054 GB adults 16+, ‡Base: 1,458 GB adults 15+
Q And which social class would you say your parents belonged to when you started primary school?
| 2-13 March 1989 | 18-21 October 1996 | 7-9 March 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | |
| Working Class | 75 | 70 | 67 |
| Middle Class | 21 | 24 | 30 |
| Don't know | - | 3 | 3 |
| Refused | 4 | 3 | * |
Base: 1,458 GB adults 15+ (1989); 1,027 GB adults aged 18+ (1996); 1,054 GB adults aged 16+ (2008)
