Mrs Birling's Class Obsession
Mrs Birling's constant references to "girls of that class" immediately reveal her obsession with social status. She doesn't see Eva Smith as an individual person but simply as a representative of the lower classes who deserve no respect.
Her language choice is telling - when Gerald politely refers to "women of the town" (prostitutes), she questions his respectful tone. This shows how she deliberately dehumanises working-class people, viewing them as objects rather than human beings with rights and dignity.
Callout: Priestley lived through both world wars and saw how class divisions damaged society - he channels this criticism directly through Mrs Birling's character.
This attitude reflects Priestley's critique of capitalism and upper-class privilege. In today's world, where we're working to break down class barriers, Mrs Birling's views seem particularly disgusting and outdated.