The Hoity-Toity Elite: How Class Privilege Perpetuates Inequality in Britain

In the posh neighbourhoods of London, where Georgian townhouses line immaculate streets and luxury cars gleam in private driveways, one can almost smell the hoity-toity attitudes wafting through the air. But behind the façade of assumed importance and highfalutin airs lies a troubling reality — the entrenched class privilege that continues to shape British society and stifle social mobility.

The Persistence of Class Divides

Despite decades of efforts to level the playing field, class divisions remain stubbornly persistent in the UK. The Social Mobility Commission’s 2019 State of the Nation report paints a stark picture of inequality that starts from birth and extends throughout one’s life and career. Those born into privileged families are nearly 80% more likely to land professional jobs compared to their working-class counterparts. Even when individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds manage to break into professional fields, they earn on average 17% less than colleagues from more privileged backgrounds.

This wage gap speaks volumes about how deeply ingrained class prejudices remain, even in ostensibly meritocratic professional environments. The hoity-toity attitudes of the upper classes — the assumption of superiority, the condescension towards those deemed “lower class” — continue to shape hiring decisions, promotions, and salary negotiations in subtle but impactful ways.

Education: Reinforcing Privilege from an Early Age

The roots of this inequality can be traced back to early childhood. By age 6, there is already a 14% gap in phonics attainment between children eligible for free school meals and their more advantaged peers. This gap only widens as students progress through the education system. By age 7, disadvantaged students lag behind by 18% in reading, 20% in writing, and 18% in mathematics.

These early disparities have long-lasting consequences. Only 16% of pupils on free school meals attain at least 2 A-levels by age 19, compared to 39% of all other pupils. This severely limits their higher education options and future career prospects.

The UK’s education system, rather than acting as a great equalizer, often reinforces existing class divides. Elite private schools provide their wealthy students with top-notch facilities, small class sizes, and extensive extracurricular opportunities. Meanwhile, state schools in disadvantaged areas struggle with budget cuts, overcrowding, and a lack of resources.

The University Divide

While increasing numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds are entering university, significant barriers remain. These students are more likely to drop out before graduating, and even those who complete their degrees face an uphill battle in the job market.

Five years after graduation, students who were eligible for free school meals earn 11.5% less than their peers. This wage gap persists even when controlling for degree subject and university attended, suggesting that class background continues to influence career trajectories long after formal education has ended.

The Hoity-Toity Workplace

The professional world is where hoity-toity attitudes often emerge most blatantly. From the moment a candidate walks through the door for an interview, subtle class markers — accent, dress, mannerisms — can influence hiring decisions. Those who don’t fit the “posh” mould may find themselves overlooked for opportunities, regardless of their qualifications or potential.

Even when working-class individuals do break into professional fields, they often face an uphill battle. The unwritten rules of upper-class social etiquette, the “right” way to network, and the expected cultural references can create invisible barriers to advancement. The result is a self-perpetuating cycle where those from privileged backgrounds continue to dominate the upper echelons of business, law, medicine, and other prestigious fields.

Geographic Mobility and Social Mobility

One particularly troubling aspect of class inequality in the UK is the strong link between geographic and social mobility. As Dame Martina Milburn, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, notes: “Our research suggests that being able to move regions is a key factor in being able to access professional jobs. Clearly moving out is too often necessary to move up.”

This reality creates a catch-22 for many working-class individuals. To access better job opportunities, they may need to relocate to more expensive areas — typically London and the Southeast. However, the high cost of living in these regions can be prohibitive, especially for those without family wealth to fall back on. The result is that many talented individuals remain trapped in areas with limited economic prospects, unable to fully realise their potential.

The Role of Further Education

While much attention is focused on universities, further education colleges play a crucial role in providing opportunities for disadvantaged students. Twice as many disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds attend further education colleges compared to sixth forms. However, funding for the further education sector has been slashed in recent years, with a 12% drop since 2011–2012.

This disproportionately impacts working-class students, who are more likely to pursue vocational pathways. As Alastair da Costa, commissioner and chair of Capital City Group, points out: “As 75% of disadvantaged 16 to 19-year-olds choose vocational education, the cuts represent a class-based segregation of the school system.”

Breaking Down Hoity-Toity Barriers

Addressing entrenched class inequality requires a multi-faceted approach. Some key steps include:

1. Increased funding for early years education and support for disadvantaged families.
2. Targeted interventions to close the attainment gap in primary and secondary schools.
3. Significant increases in funding for further education and vocational training.
4. Expansion of contextual admissions policies at universities to account for applicants’ backgrounds.
5. Mandatory class diversity training in workplaces to combat unconscious bias.
6. Government incentives for businesses to improve social mobility within their organisations.

Challenging Classist Language and Attitudes

On a cultural level, we must confront the hoity-toity attitudes that perpetuate class divisions. This includes challenging classist language and slurs, such as “chav” or “benefits scrounger”, which serve to dehumanise and stigmatise working-class individuals.

Organisations should also examine their social events and company culture to ensure they’re not inadvertently excluding those from less privileged backgrounds. Expensive meals, trips requiring specific skillsets or knowledge, or events centred around traditionally upper-class pursuits can all serve to reinforce class barriers in the workplace.

The Economic Imperative

Beyond the moral imperative to create a fairer society, addressing class inequality is crucial for the UK’s economic future. As Dame Martina Milburn argues: “At a time when our country needs to be highly productive and able to carve out a new role in a shifting political and economic landscape, we must find a way to maximise the talent of all our citizens, especially those that start the furthest behind.”

By failing to tap into the full potential of individuals from working-class backgrounds, the UK is squandering a vast pool of talent and creativity. In an increasingly competitive global economy, the country simply cannot afford to let class prejudices hold it back.

Conclusion: Dismantling the Hoity-Toity Hierarchy

The persistence of hoity-toity attitudes and entrenched class privilege in British society is more than just a social issue — it’s an economic drag and a moral failing. A truly meritocratic society cannot exist when accidents of birth continue to play such an outsized role in determining life outcomes.

Dismantling these longstanding class barriers will require sustained effort and commitment from all sectors of society — government, education, business, and individuals. It means confronting uncomfortable truths about privilege and challenging deeply ingrained assumptions about class and worth.

The road ahead is long, but the potential rewards are immense. A Britain where talent and hard work truly determine success, regardless of background, would be a more dynamic, innovative, and fundamentally fairer society. It’s time to leave hoity-toity attitudes in the past and embrace a future of genuine equality of opportunity for all.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9

Bob Lynn / 04-Dec-2024