Do people marry within their class in Ireland?

SafeSurfer · 25-11-2012 11:57pm

previous user wrote: »

so she only married him from the money, that's pretty disgusting imo.

Only for the money maybe disgusting. But do you believe that people simply randomly fall in love and spend the rest of their lives with that person?

In a small number of cases perhaps but if we are honest the motivation behind partner selection is more practical and less romantic than many people will admit.

steddyeddy · 26-11-2012 12:03am

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Only for the money maybe disgusting. But do you believe that people simply randomly fall in love and spend the rest of their lives with that person?

In a small number of cases perhaps but if we are honest the motivation behind partner selection is more practical and less romantic than many people will admit.

Well I suppose a man with money might be more attractive. It might not be greed but security that motivates a person.

Siuin · 26-11-2012 12:04am

Tbh I can see myself marrying within my class simply because I think there's a greater possibility of having similar values and worldviews with someone who was raised in a similar way. For me, it's not a matter of snobbery, but of expectations. However, I also wish to continue living the lifestyle my parents worked hard to provide me with and would not particularly fancy trying to support someone else who may not be earning as much.

johndaman66 · 26-11-2012 1:07am

steddyeddy wrote: »

Well I suppose a man with money might be more attractive. It might not be greed but security that motivates a person.

Its very true. If you like it goes back to stone age times. The man who was the best hunter gatherer would have being the best proposition. Were not hunting wild animals to survive anymore but I think to a certain extent the same characteristic survives within us. The guy who has the better job and is better able to provide for his family generally tends to win

steddyeddy · 26-11-2012 1:14am

I was born into a working class family and now as a scientist I'm aparantly middle class.

Now you'll forgive me for bringing science into after hours but the whole class concept seems archaic and meaningless.

When I was working class I was still as intelligent as as I am now. If anything being from a working class background made me work harder in order to get out of the area I lived!

Class is not an indication of good stock or intelligence or any other inherent factor. I dont see how labelling people according to the financial situation they were born into has merit. Why not judge people on inherent illness predisposition (eg diabetes or cardiac disease). It would be a pretty horrible thing to do but I dont see how that's any worse than labelling someone as belonging to a certain type of "class" based on something they had no control over. ie the situation they were born into.

As regards the marrying thing I think I wouldnt be attracted to either someone who was happy with their lot in life if they were born into poor circumstances like myself. Nor would I be attracted to anyone who was born into a rich family and only did well because of mammy or daddies money and were sent to the best schools and think they college is a right. They're equally wasters in my opinion.

SafeSurfer · 26-11-2012 2:05am

johndaman66 wrote: »

Its very true. If you like it goes back to stone age times. The man who was the best hunter gatherer would have being the best proposition. Were not hunting wild animals to survive anymore but I think to a certain extent the same characteristic survives within us. The guy who has the better job and is better able to provide for his family generally tends to win

I thing all the ugly smart people would agree on that point.

SafeSurfer · 26-11-2012 2:12am

steddyeddy wrote: »

I was born into a working class family and now as a scientist I'm aparantly middle class.

Now you'll forgive me for bringing science into after hours but the whole class concept seems archaic and meaningless.

When I was working class I was still as intelligent as as I am now. If anything being from a working class background made me work harder in order to get out of the area I lived!

Class is not an indication of good stock or intelligence or any other inherent factor. I dont see how labelling people according to the financial situation they were born into has merit. Why not judge people on inherent illness predisposition (eg diabetes or cardiac disease). It would be a pretty horrible thing to do but I dont see how that's any worse than labelling someone as belonging to a certain type of "class" based on something they had no control over. ie the situation they were born into.

As regards the marrying thing I think I wouldnt be attracted to either someone who was happy with their lot in life if they were born into poor circumstances like myself. Nor would I be attracted to anyone who was born into a rich family and only did well because of mammy or daddies money and were sent to the best schools and think they college is a right. They're equally wasters in my opinion.

I agree with you, but I think the concept of class in Ireland is more of your family's reputation in a community over time rather than you as an individual, regardless of means. I mean a drug dealer could be very wealthy but would be seen in most communities as a scumbag.

This may be more prevalent in rural Ireland where, populations, up until recently were more fixed, social mobility is easier in a larger urban environment.

ArtSmart · 26-11-2012 2:34am

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Do people in Ireland tend to marry within their "class". I know class in Ireland is ill defined but you rarely get a doctor or solicitor married to someone from a working class background. Class in England is a major topic of discussion but it doesn't seem as relevant in an Irish context.

Is this because we were mainly an agricultural society, is class in Ireland more clearly defined in the cities with a history of industrial development rather than in more rural areas?

Ireland a more classless society than other developed societies, eg UK? nope.

We've more cows per head maybe, but that'd be about it.

just another 'shure when all's said 'n done, shure aren't we....{INSERT NONSENSE HERE}....

ArtSmart · 26-11-2012 2:43am

T-K-O wrote: »

You marry those in your social circle. For most people I dont believe class is an issue

inherent contradiction alert.

what we define as 'social' circle is actually class - class is based on education level usually, but not exclusively. it has little to do with money.

it aint good or bad. it's socio-biological mate choosing mechanics. sometimes a social set is diverse and crossing- over can occur, but the couple still usually have enough socio-biological similarities.

not socio-political, - socio-biological

ArtSmart · 26-11-2012 2:44am

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Not sure I agree with the idea that people who went to college will only go out with/marry others with the same level of education as all my former partners had college degrees and I had none.

*cough*

lol

Milk & Honey · 26-11-2012 8:42am

There are people on here who wouldn't even go to school with others of a different social class so it is hardly likely they would marry them.

Merrion · 26-11-2012 1:53pm

Do people marry within their class? Yes but not exclusively. Marriages of choice tend towards choosing the familiar and that includes class. Of course exceptions exist and that makes life more interesting and freshens the somewhat shallow gene pool.
(The upper class are least likely to marry outside of class and therefore tend to be magnificently inbred)

T-K-O · 26-11-2012 2:35pm

ArtSmart wrote: »

inherent contradiction alert.

what we define as 'social' circle is actually class - class is based on education level usually, but not exclusively. it has little to do with money.

it aint good or bad. it's socio-biological mate choosing mechanics. sometimes a social set is diverse and crossing- over can occur, but the couple still usually have enough socio-biological similarities.

not socio-political, - socio-biological

Technical I agree. However if a person is born and raised in a council flat by default they will become a member of a certain 'class'.

Now if that person through friends or education beings to socialize with Doctors, Barristers etc do they automatically become a member that class?

ArtSmart · 27-11-2012 12:36am

T-K-O wrote: »

Technical I agree. However if a person is born and raised in a council flat by default they will become a member of a certain 'class'.

Now if that person through friends or education beings to socialize with Doctors, Barristers etc do they automatically become a member that class?

by socialise do you mean attend appointments?

anyway, shifting to another 'class' aint no thang. you've moved class, is all. so now you marry in that class. (assuming the teacher is ok with it)

is there class mobility in Ireland? yup, sure is.

Is their a more 'classless' society in Ireland than other first world countries? nope

do people (tend) to marry within their class? yup, sure do.

is there a point in continuing this thread? probably not.

steddyeddy · 27-11-2012 1:07am

I think people marry into their own level more than anything else. Fiachra from blackrock college will generally only marry someone at his level of stereotype. Those who aim high in the world will generally marry high aimers. Low aimers or those happy to live of daddy's income will general marry other people like that.

LeeHoffmann · 27-11-2012 1:50am

What is class? A set of attributes that places you in a certain sociological category...which attributes? Your income, your education, the people you know, your manner of speaking (including your accent, normal tone of voice and gestures), your occupation...these would be the main ones I would think. People who belong to a certain sociological category/class tend to go to the same places or same sort of place - whether that be the local pub, the golf course or charity ball, or universities - largely due to financial reasons. There, like mixes with like until the similarities seem universal and the differences are minimised. Thus a certain way of thinking, dressing and behaving emerges within that class. Classes have a sub culture of their own. Most people feel most comfortable with what's familiar and connect best with those who share their world view and background. Obviously they're also more likely to socialise with those of their own class...so it's no wonder they're more likely to marry within their class. However social mobility is quite possible in Ireland...if you refine your speech, educate yourself to a higher degree and change your usual social hang outs.

What's funny is we don't all agree about the attributes that make up class but we all recognise particular classes instantly. Somebody once said to me: The lower class derides, the middle class complains, the upper class patronises. Maybe that's why

Johro · 27-11-2012 3:10am

I hate when people start talking about class, and class distinctions. Things can only go downhill from there.

later12 · 27-11-2012 3:30am

I think it's disgusting to the point of verging on hilarity for anyone to unilaterally decide themselves to be of a superior class to another. It would be funny if it were not so narcissistic and idiotic.

To embrace class identity is to turn your back on the principles of hard work, human endeavour and all of the other noble struggles of human existence that make us so wonderful, in place of some lazy, hereditary caste system which often has anything but class.

LeeHoffmann · 27-11-2012 3:42am

I don´t think anyone posted on this thread saying that a segregated class system was a good thing
...or did I miss something?

Do people marry within their class in Ireland?

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