Much like today, middle and upper class people had a much better life and a higher quality of living than those in the working class. Their wealth afforded them better leisure activities, health and housing, and the chance to obtain an education and therefor work better jobs in safer and more comfortable environments then others.

The higher class families had often inherited their wealth and status and usually did not have to work at all. The middle class workers were usually well respected and had professional jobs such as teachers, lawyers, administrative or clerical office jobs. They usually earned a higher salary and were not subjected to the physical labour and danger of factory work that the working class were. The middle class men earned enough to support their families. Middle class woman rarely worked unless it was of a charitable nature.