2. How does class affect the way we think and behave?

Chapter 2 suggests there is a ‘class ceiling’ in the UK, an embedded hierarchy based on accent, education, self-presentation and privilege. Our speakers describe ‘classism’ which determines who gets ‘top jobs’ and which professions are rewarded and celebrated, regardless of talent. It is a ‘misrecognition of merit’ reflected in our media and is often internalised, determining how we see each other and behave.

3. The markers of poverty

Chapter 3 looks at what it is like to grow up as a child in a household experiencing poverty and how deeply that affects life chances. Our speakers describe their own experiences, how dealing with the effects of poverty can be all-consuming and how debilitating t