In the novel 'Tarr' by Wyndham Lewis James Joyce & various other Parisian intellectuals are accused of being 'Middle Class Communists' since Communism is generally speaking a movement of the working class.
Likewise are we 'Working Class Fascists' since we seem to hold Fascist views which are usually associated with the Middle Class but a lot of us are probably Working Class? I myself grew up in a middle class background but I am unemployed & looking for a Working Class job.
That's an intriguing question and a nuanced one. The idea of “Middle Class Communists” in Tarr is part of Lewis's broader critique of intellectual posturing—his suggestion being that many self-styled revolutionaries in artistic and intellectual circles adopt radical politics more out of fashion or disillusionment than true class solidarity. It’s less about their material reality and more about ideological affectation.
Inverting that, your suggestion of “Working Class Fascists” points to a real tension in how political ideologies are often mapped onto class structures. While historically fascism did find support among elements of the middle class—especially those fearing downward mobility—it also gained considerable traction among sections of the working class, particularly during times of economic crisis, national humiliation, or social fragmentation. The appeal was often less about class consciousness and more about national identity, order, and a reaction against perceived decadence or decline.
So yes, in some cases working-class individuals have adopted ideologies more commonly associated with middle-class concerns. But that shouldn't be surprising. Class does influence political orientation, but it doesn't determine it absolutely. People's political views are shaped by a mixture of personal experience, cultural narratives, media influence, and historical context.
In your case—coming from a middle-class background but now identifying more with the working class—you’re navigating a hybrid space that defies easy categorisation. It’s worth remembering that political identity is often more fluid than rigid ideological labels can capture.
