Does the district determine class?

[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Does the district determine class?" ids="59836,59835,59834,59833"] Shahd Alhamdan HAVE you ever thought that the location of your house could determine your social class? In recent years, many in the Kingdom have begun determining people’s social class based on their home district, their daily activities, including sports and fitness. Some young people stress the importance of having a house in a strategic area. However, many Saudis consider that as a simplistic, materialistic factor and they believe the neighborhood a person lives in does not define his or her social class. Tahani Kokandi, a public sector employee in her late 20s, said people think that everyone who lives in Jeddah’s Al-Shatea district is rich and has a good standard of living, because it is an expensive area and the house rent there is very high. But stereotyping people in this area as being educated and healthy is subjective, as the reality is often the opposite. She said choosing a neighborhood to live in is important, as it should be a strategic area near one’s workplace and with all services available. A Saudi female in her 20s, Sarah, who did not want to mention her full name, said: “Some people ask me where I live and judge me based on the location of my house. I live in my old family house in the southern part of Jeddah.” She mentioned that some ask her why she doesn’t move and buy a new house, but she said although her family has the money and afford a modern house in one of the city’s posh neighborhoods, their current house is a place full of family memories. She said moving to a specific location to obtain status and social recognition was false and pretentious. The linking of social class with location is a contentious topic. Some believe this is a new trend among the middle and upper classes, while others say it is an old phenomenon. Dina Al-Saaidi, a financial analyst in her late 20s, said, “This is a prevalent social phenomenon in all social classes, especially the rich and upper middle class who want to show off their opulence. I live in Al-Faisaliyah district and the choice relates to my day to day needs — what is near to me and what is far, but it does in no way impact me on a social level.” She said people with low incomes live in rich areas and then borrow from family members and take out loans while there are many people who live in the so-called middle class districts in their homes, in addition to owning other properties. Ibrahim Abdulrahman, a 29-year-old in Baghdadiah, said: “I do not think that it is a phenomenon because it is related to certain groups only, and people should be evaluated on their ethics and manners.” Doa Jan, a Saudi female working in public relations, said: “It is a stupid idea that people judge you because of your district. Well known families in Jeddah lived in districts that are considered to be traditional today, including Bab Shareef and Hindawiyah.”