Kitty Kelley

The difference between authorized and unauthorized biographies is the difference between riding in carriage or squatting in steerage.

American Journalist

The term is outdated and was mainly used to describe low-cost ship accommodation, so use it in historical or period contexts.

Historical Usage

Steerage is associated with poverty and the struggles of early immigrants, implying a humble or difficult journey.

Socioeconomic Connotation

In literature and film, steerage is often depicted as the lower class lifestyle aboard ships, contrasting with luxury above deck.

Cultural Reference

Steerage indicates a task requiring experience and skill, often done by a captain or pilot.

Skilled Task

Using 'steerage' implies a situation where precise control is necessary, like navigating tricky passages.

Precision Required

Refers to the mechanisms that allow a vessel or vehicle to be directed or steered.

Control Mechanism

 This is possibly unfair, but I woke up the other night with this picture of how I found I was thinking about you and the situation, that we're on this great voyage with you on this ship called the "Twittanic" -- and there are people on board in steerage