Maybe I've been on the elitist side of TSR too much but the more I think about it isn't 2.1 just like aā¦B? As in, second-class student, second-class employee, second-class citizen, second-class partner/date.
If everyone is getting 2.1s and the market is saturated with them, then why should one be proud of being distinctly average? (Yes I'm aware that a 'C'student is what's stereotypically considered average but in reality B is the new C)
I'm getting depressed thinking of my graduation ceremony and going up to get the piece of laminated paper they call a certificate which says 'well done, you, you spent 3 years of your life working for us and as it turns out, you did okay'
(Context: Brother came joint top of his year in MEng at an RG uni, now preparing to broadcast his PhD thesis on international business trips)
Especially in Arts. AFAIK 2.1 STEM> First in Arts :/