Last week Bangs and a Bun posted a blog posing the question "Are you who you are or what you do?" It basically touched on defining yourself by your job and if that's good or bad. I think I've summed it up accurately. Just click the link and go read it for yourself.
When I got to the comments I noticed all the readers who left their two cents before me were all sort of apologizing for what they do. Maybe not apologizing, but rather writing things like "sometimes I hate to tell people what I do because of the assumptions" blah blah blah and I was a bit surprised that so many grown folks are going around feeling ashamed of their occupation.
I mean, unless your job is breaking into nurseries and stealing the still-beating heart of a baby and its mother, I don't see what there is to be ashamed of. Perhaps these women (I think they were all women) were confusing shame with dislike? Honestly if you are working a legit job- whether it be flipping burgers or teaching sixth-grade math- shame should never come into play. You're earning a living, helping to support yourself, instead of trying to mooch off of your parents or doing something illegal. Stand TALL! You may not like your job, but there's nothing shameful about earning an honest wage. Maybe you wish you had something more prestigious or higher-paying but again, there's nothing shameful about it.
I come from the kind of stock that considers you a winner if you're working. Plain and simple. If you're handling your business then you're A-OK. I've never been asked what I do by family members but only IF I'm working. That question would come eventually but it was never first. I was never ashamed of answering phones or filing papers or mopping floors or shelving books because it was all just a means to an end. I'm proud of every job I've ever had. Even that one job I can't talk about because I signed that non-disclosure contract and if I told you I'd have to kill you. Especially that one. So perhaps it's a cultural thing?
Or maybe my situation is unique because my occupation really is who I am. I'm a writer "for play and pay" as stated in my author bio. I create stories for a living- factual and fictional. I bring to life random letters of the alphabet and someone sees fit to pay me for it.
And in return I get to see my creations reach hundreds if not thousands of people. See that sentence you just read? That was one of my babies. I call her Melly. Say hi!
*smooches...sending out cyber hugs to remove your shame*
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here; I'll even shimmy for you a little bit...
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4 comments:
BRAVA!!! It is definitely a cultural thing. I read that post and decided not to comment because I was saddened by it.
I am what I do because I love what I do. When I was growing up my mom always said that no matter what career you chose from nurse to janitor just be the best you can be and no one will ever be able to judge you. I chose a different route than her favorite two choices but I'm proud. I work hard, I get to forecast things that will happen in the market and help my clients to be better, it's thrilling. Even with the financial meltdown I'm still proud of what I do, tons of people I know think I shouldn't be, but Patsy would tell them to get on because she's the best at what she does.
And trust you don't want it with my momma
GREETINGS!
Yes, I meant to go back and reply to the comment you left on mine so I'm glad you wrote this.
Most definitely, as F$%k It just said there, I think it's a cultural thing. It's one of the main things I noticed when I lived in the States. Everyone there is about the grind and I felt there was less judgement about what it is you do - it was more just about whether or not you're doing something at all and that was enough.
I think that comes down to the 'American Dream' - you can be anything you want to be - and you all love a success story. The humbler the beginnings the better. If someone spent years scrubbing toilets, then finally becomes a millionaire after creating some magical toilet bowl cleaner, well that's the Hollywood ending the American Dream is all about.
Over here in England, we're the result of a centuries old class system (which is still in existence, one could argue). You absolutely are looked down upon if you have certain kinds of jobs. It's not right, but it happens. And it wasn't until I was 26/27 that I realised how silly it really is.
Basically I'm saying I completely agree with what you're saying here. I think the attitudes expressed in the comments on my blog are those of frustrated English people who are up against a rather stiff attitude on the subject on a daily basis.
Awww, that's terrible, Bangsy! I have a lot of issues with this country of mine (yes, I own it) but I guess you just highlighted one of the great things about living here- we still believe in the "American Dream" and that makes us work like crazy.
Well, most of us. I think we can all agree there are a certain number of people living w/their parents and camping out in downtown Manhattan playing the drums all day & practicing yoga in the afternoon...because they're 99% retarded... LOL!
Interesting post. I agree with bangs, I think it's cultural and based on class here. People are incredibly class-ist and judge what class you are by what job you do- and often if you were educated to a level that is perceived as 'above' the job you are doing to earn a living, you are judged as failing in some way unfortunately!
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