Being in my twenties and having just completed my degree it has become more and more apparent over the course of time that today's class society is no different to that of the nineteenth century. There are still complete class divides that we clearly abide by in society. Upon completing my degree I realise that there are some friendships that will not last through the task of everyone going their separate ways with career choices. The unveiling of certain sectors of industries are dominated by different classes and specific types of people.
Although we may try desperately hard to find what it is that we truly enjoy and are good at, more often than not, it turns out that we follow in the footsteps of our parents. The public school boy is a good example of this, for when we look to the city we can see that the banks are monopolized by this type of person. The bankers of Meryl Lynch, Deutch Bank and ABN Amro are all controlled by the same type of person. As we look to the fashion PR world we can see the same well spoken, well groomed, secretarial school girls calling the shots. Does this make it fair for those who do not fit into this well moneyed background?
In the run up to graduation it is almost ridiculous the amount of people that start adopting double barreled surnames and speaking oh so terribly well, just so someone will take the time of day to listen to them. Instead of people being ok with the way they are and the way they have been brought up they start reading Tatler and feigning interests in polo and regattas, but for what? - surely people can see through this Venetian glass facade? I myself having been lucky to have had a very privileged upbringing, am the complete opposite to this. I started life off, as any kid should, not having a clue as to my social standing, not knowing my house was large, not thinking that Harvey Nic's was a big deal and not knowing that going horse riding all the time was something that was looked upon as 'posh'. I didn't enter the 'real' world until I was eleven. My parents had always threatened private education upon my brother and I, but had wanted us to experience the real world so had sent us to state. And for this I am truly grateful. Although I have to say had I just gone to private school I wouldn't have faced the taunts of speaking too well and always having good trainers and handbags. (I put that down to taste). But hell who cares I got through it in one piece - just about. I did go through seven years of trying to speak like the other kids, and having to give as good as I got, but it gave me a balanced and less sheltered outlook on life, and make me more aware of how others lived and not just how our family friends lived.
It is only now that I have fully left the educational system that I feel completely ok with who I am. Yes I enjoy going to polo, and going to balls, and going to regattas and drinking champagne, but I also enjoy going down the pub, drinking Magners, and will give anyone a mouthful if they're out of line -but that is me. I've been brought up in around horses, spent most weekends on the river, and got taken to rugby matches and festivals by my parents so why wouldn't I like these things? Just as some people enjoy going to football matches as their fathers have been taking them ever since they were little. There is no difference as our parents and families are the ones who shape our influences. That's why it comes as no surprise when we follow in our parent's footsteps, career wise. Yes you don't have to like all the same things as your parents but often you will have a lot in common with them, as you're part of them.
I find it a shame as I speak to a nine-year-old boy, that he is fully aware that he lives in a large house, and babbles on about his family's farm where they have twelve acres, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a golf course - or whatever else it is that makes this farm sound more like Centre Parks. No kid should be aware of these things at that young age. They, like me should just be happy and oblivious and think that that is normal. Yes they should be aware that they are lucky, but it shouldn't be used as a way to set yourself above other people. Your parents working hard is not an excuse to show off, because you my friend are not the one who's sweated blood and tears to get it.
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