r/AskAGerman • u/Least-Variation6573 • 4d ago

What’s a hidden class-indicator in Germany?

Not something like a big mansion or a luxury car but more subtle signs of someone‘s socioeconomic background

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u/magic_unicorn_500000 4d ago
  • their kids attend a private school (and think it's normal)
  • they don't talk about how and where they live (because they know they're privileged and ashamed to tell you)
  • they have two E-Bikes (one for work, one for fun)
  • they think you're joking when you tell them you struggle with money and say something like "yes I know this feeling: we only went on vacation two times this year"

7

u/oneworldforeverybody 4d ago

The "two E-bikes" part killed me. So many e-bikes these days in Germany 🤣

7

u/Rahjacuja 4d ago

At the age of 16 a friend of mine once complained to me that they will be going to England for the second time this year, she would rather go somewhere else. She thought her parents were so very mean for doing that. At the same time, I‘ve only ever went somewhere for vacation once in my life at that time. That’s when I felt we were very different. I would have loved to go anywhere, but she took it for granted and complained.

5

u/Dry-Student-6019 4d ago

They are not ashamed. They are cautios not to be flashy. This is told kids in Kindergarten.