Frustration

• Cate Blanchett, whose net worth is estimated at A$140 million, has described herself as “middle class” – unwittingly unleashing a furore.
• Studies have long shown that Australians tend to overly claim to be middle class when ranked by income, regardless of whether they fall below or above “the middle”.
• Some have suggested this is because identifying as middle class sits comfortably with being “average” or “ordinary”.

What is ‘middle class’ anyway?

• In everyday life, however, more established ways of thinking and feeling about class continue to carry weight.
• Some people continue to claim the class identity of their childhood, despite inhabiting a differently classed world as an adult.
• Blanchett’s class origin may have been middle class, but her class destination – the one she currently inhabits within the 1% – is certainly not.

Why does it matter?

• This shifts attention from the unequal distribution of resources in society, which contributes significantly to who gets ahead.
• People on either side of the divide become unable to perceive the extent of the gulf that separates their lives from others.
• This perception gap is one reason why some advocate for more opportunities to enable people to study, live and work alongside others from different class backgrounds.

Confronting class

• Blanchett’s claim to being middle class is not unique.
• British people often downplay or selectively obscure their class background, too.
• However, they are more likely to misidentify as working class, rather than middle class.