A third of Britons believe they have changed social class, survey finds

"More than a third of Britons say they have changed social class, with upper-middle and upper-class people most likely to identify as belonging to more than one class, according to a survey. Working-class people were the least likely to say they had changed class or identified with more than one, with 70% saying they were in the same social category they were born into, the study by research firm Attest found."

"Researchers coined the term polyclass to describe the equivalent of 6 million British people who identified as belonging to more than one class at once. The survey of 2,000 people also found an entrenched sensitivity about the topic, with nearly half of respondents saying they had felt judged for their class, and most ranking social class above age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation in terms of how they think others see them."

"Dominic Abrams, a professor of social psychology and director of the Centre for the Study of Group Processes at the University of Kent, said he thought the term polyclass was useful at a time when class boundaries were far more blurred than in previous generations. Traditional categorisations such as ABC1, denoting the middle classes, were no longer necessarily signals of belief or attitude, and not even necessarily signs of class."

"So [traditional categorisations are] not terribly helpful any more, Abrams said. I think the broader perception now is that if you want to move around, and you have the resources to do so, you can. A lot of people say they have moved class. This viewpoint is particularly apparent among millennials, according to the survey, with almost half saying they had become a different class or identified as belonging to more than one."

More than a third of Britons report changing social class. Upper-middle and upper-class people are most likely to identify with more than one class, while working-class people are least likely to report change. About 70% of working-class respondents say they remain in the same social category as at birth. Researchers use the term “polyclass” for roughly 6 million people who identify with multiple classes at once. The survey of 2,000 people finds strong sensitivity, with nearly half reporting feeling judged for their class. Respondents rank perceived social class above age, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation in how others see them. Millennials show the highest reported movement, while working-class people are described as having more stable cultural roots tied to place.

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