Do you agree that people can always tell which socioeconomic group you belong to based on your clothing, behaviour and speech?

[Anonymous]

I plan to move out of home; live in a rented apartment. My bestie lives in Govt housing. I know there’s always a vacancy around her area of Sydney, however, that’s because her area is filled with lots of poorer people, living in govt housing, just scraping by.

My friend claims to be well off, but you can tell by her appearance and behaviour that she’s not. I’m from a wealthy family and I think it’s probably obvious, too, by my manners, speech, knowledge of fine dining, interests, fancy belongings and my skin being barely lined in my thirties.

My situation in life is that my parents and I want for me to try to learn to become independent of them, to live independently. So I’m looking at govt housing and I find myself on the pension from major depression and being rendered unable to work as a result of that.

I’m afraid that if I apply for govt housing in certain areas, the other residents will all be able to pick me as a woman who came from money and I could be in danger, even if I dressed poorer. My parents agree that I have the look of someone with money and that could be dangerous for me. Is this likely to be the case?

Updates

1 y

I am not a snob by the way. I’m a woman from a rich family that worked hard to make their wealth. I was brought up amongst poorer families, with humbler values and a simpler mindset than some rich people. I just want to make it on my own and I don’t want to be in danger.

[Tarifa]

To a certain extent, yes. The best thing is to try and blend in with the rest. You'll be fine.

As a side note, I used to fly to a certain destination and border controls were strict. Whenever I arrived well dressed, I'd pass border control without any hassle. Whenever I showed up in casual clothing and a stubble beard of a week or so, I was picked out and my luggage searched.

So yes, people judge you on the way you dress and behave.

[slatyb]

I don't. There are plenty of highly cultured people with little money. My wife has a closet full of designer clothes -- Chanel, YSL, Gucci, Prada, Gaultier, etc. She finds them all barely worn at resale shops. She has strong knowledge or literature, theater, and art. When she's out, she looks like she just walked off a movie set.

[OddBeMe]

No. I’ve interviewed CEOs and they commonly dress like bums.

[jahaims]

Obviously not

[Anonymous]

Nope.