The desire for a “self-made” image is so widespread that even Posh Spice positions itself as such

There are no official numbers, but I can imagine that the video in which Victoria Beckham describes herself as “very working class” was by far the most viewed video on social media this month. Part of the Netflix documentary series Beckham — about her husband, David, but also about her — became the source of an endless stream of memes, where a simple text was often enough to elevate the hypocrisy to an even more hypocritical and discriminating level. “You can shop once at Albert Heijn instead of Marqt – Very working class‘. “You can take the bike once instead of Uber – Very working class.’ “You’re actually eating frozen leftovers – Very working class.’

Victoria Beckham isn’t the only one trying to adopt a working-class image: England has quickly built a rich tradition of celebrities pretending to be of simple origins. For example, pop star Lily Allen sang for years in a fake accent to hide the fact that she went to private schools. Singer Jimmy T pulled the same trick. Anya Taylor Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) She said in interviews that she paid for drama school from her own savings. It later turned out that she only attended insanely expensive boarding schools.

Now the desire is one self madeApparently the photo is so widespread that “Posh Spice” positions itself as such. Granted, her parents weren’t necessarily elite, they were businessmen – but they were wealthy. Rich enough for a Rolls Royce, anyway. Because yes, they did, Beckham says reluctantly, when her husband David called her to command her during her “working-class” play. “Be honest,” he says from the other room. “What kind of car did your father take you to school in?”

Beckham’s claim is laughable, but inconceivable. In the meritocratic struggle for the right to succeed, we have become terrified of gaining a distinct image and thus risking the devaluation of our human capital. In addition, we have incorrectly conflated hard work with social status: we talk about “working class” when we mean “people with jobs,” while “working class” is the term that refers to those who have to work hard to get by. An income of approximately the subsistence minimum. A work ethic or long hours demonstrates that you are ambitious, but says nothing about your socioeconomic birthplace.

When Noa Vahle recently won the Televizier Ring Award, she thanked her parents — Sander Vahle and Linda de Mol — “for the wheelbarrow.” Such a thing shows not only self-mockery, but also social awareness: honesty about benefits creates a better view of the distribution of opportunities, just as pay transparency reduces the salary gap.

At the same time, the pressure is also on creating memes here. “You acknowledge your privilege in a TV speech – Very working class.’ An honest lecturer does not change the fact that our society is becoming more and more like England in terms of social mobility: entrenched apartheid, with everyone at the top generally acting as if they had risen from the bottom.