“Oh, you ONLY do that?” – I’m so sick of people tying human value to job titles.
Hi everyone, I just need to vent about a toxic social dynamic that I keep encountering, and I know this sub will understand. Whenever I’m getting to know new people (both younger and older), the question "What do you do for a living?" inevitably comes up. When I tell them I work as a retail worker, way too many people give me this condescending half-smile and say: "Oh... so you ONLY do that? "As if my job is just a temporary failure, a lack of ambition, or something to be ashamed of. It drives me crazy.
There is this disgusting classist snobbery where people completely evaluate your intelligence, your worth, and your dignity based on your LinkedIn bio or the prestige of your job title.They have absolutely no idea how exhausting customer service is. They don’t see the emotional labor, the stress management, or the flexibility it requires. Every honest job that pays the bills and gives you financial independence deserves 100% respect. Period. I am so tired of this capitalist brainwash where we are forced to feel "less than" just because we aren't chasing some corporate hustle or corporate title. Your job is what you do to survive, it is NOT who you are.
Has anyone else experienced this? How do you deal with people who try to look down on your job?