Why do people look down on "blue collar" workers?

Question

I come from a family of construction workers (roads, buildings, parts, etc.) currently I'm working as a garbage man. I've noticed that 75+% of people who seem to have nicer things (house, car, etc.) give me dirty or condemning looks when I'm working. I usually have a pleasant attitude at work both now and when I've done other forms of construction. My big problem with this is that without the "blue collar" workers society would fall apart, there would be no buildings, roads, or anything really but we rarely make good money and a lot of us struggle to get by. So what's the deal?

Answer 1

Proverbs 6:16 speaks of 7 things that the Lord hates and the first one on the list is a proud look. The proud will be humbled. Which Mayor was it that told everyone they could do without his job but they could not do with out a sanitation worker. It is when his city sanitation workers went on strike and the streets were full of trash. I think you are blessed because you have a job. Several of my friends would love to have your job because they are NOT getting by all that well as the plant where they worked cut back. I also have friends that work in the construction industry and it is fun to go around and see the buildings and roads they have worked on that will be there long after they are gone. Mmm

Answer 2

I have often noticed this too. I have to say that I do not approve of this behavior, but having been around a lot of different types of people I have come to the conclusion that this happens purely because of stereotyping. Traditionally in years past these "blue collar" jobs that you speak of were most often held by uneducated people, often with criminal backgrounds, because often times they were the only ones willing to accept these positions. Now because there is such a demand, these jobs are actually some of the higher paying jobs in our society and the construction workers are often highly educated people with degrees in engineering and other fields like architecture. I think older people fail to realize that these "blue collar" jobs have evolved over the years and the simple truth of the matter is, they have not. Honestly it probably depends on what part of the country you live or even what city. When I lived in the Suburbs on the Kansas side of the state line all the waste management people were City Employees and were treated as such. Here in Kansas City, MO on the other side of the state line, the City contracts that work to local companies and these companies don't have the stricit hiring policies that the City has. My friends Sister actually heard 2 of the contracted employees plotting to steal her car while collecting her trash. So I over all have a pretty high oppinion of 'blue collar" workers, but a very low opinion of the contracted workers from Deffenbaugh, not helping this opinion is the fact that they don't do a very good job, they never leave my recycling bin where I put it, one time it was a whole house away. Hope this helps, really though there isn't much you can do except when someone gives you a dirty look, just say in the nicest sweetest way possibe "Hi how are you today?" then as you leave tell them to "have a great day!" You know kill them with kindness, make them feel like the JERKS that they are.

Answer 3

This is not my opinion, I am just trying to think like "they" do. I think they feel like they have worked hard to climbed the social ladder and that the blue collar workers could do better if they wanted to. Since they don't have high paying jobs, they must be lazy and uneducated and illiterate or something.

Personally, I am glad you are there. It certainly does not mean you are uneducated or illiterate. A very good friend of mine went to school and got his master's degree. He worked in his field for a short while and found that he did not enjoy the pressure. Now he works on a trash truck. He says he may be a little grubby at the end of the day, but he knows his hours and knows when he comes home at night he has nothing to worry about until tomorrow.

Lets hear it for the blue collar boys!!!!

Answer 4

Take a look around man! People look down at all sorts of people. Mexicans, Middle Easterns, Blacks, Latinos, Poor, Blue Collar, etc. Unfortunately in this society people are VERY stereotypical and judgemental about appearances rather than how people truly are. Society as a whole shows us that if you are not wearing the latest trends, driving the nicest vehicles, or live in a glamourous house, then you are nobody, and people believe that you are in such need that if you catch a glimpse of what they have in their garage, you'll come and steal it. That look you are referring to is the "do what you are paid to do and get going". People are still very close minded and think in ways that are not very progressive. Like all black people are ebonic speaking, weed smoking, thiefs living of wellfare; or the Mexicans that are lazy, and are only capable of getting jobs as janitors and gardeners; Middle Easterns who are either terrorist, or work at 7-11 or driving taxis. Blue collar is no different than this, even if you are white. You are just one cut above the others, but still they disect you in order to not make you look as a worthy person. What you can do is keep on living like you do and don't let some people's attitude get to you. Just show them with actions who you are and how were you raised morally which is what the ones that judge you pretend they have, but are actually missing. That is why I mingle better with the kind of people I mentioned at the beginning, because they ARE real, rather than fake they are. Live and let live my friend. Keep the peace.

Answer 5

Yeah i hear you on that. my husband is a plumber. He plumbs new homes in our area wich is a very nice area and i work at a resturaunt and i am a full time mom. I drive a car and he has a truck. Our cars are not fancy but they are clean and well kept.It just seems to me that these days if you are not a lawyer or famous or some occupation thats extravagent, people look down on you wich is *ucked up. We get looks sometimes too. But we dress nice and are very friendly to people. I think it's our area, full of snobs but hey we live there too so whats up with that you know?!. We may not have fancy houses like they do or drive bmw's. Hey I have a good song for this one. Have you heard of the country music singer, hank williams? He has a great song about this subject. It's called " the American way" You should listen to it. And hey, don't worry about people, just do what you have to do to get by. Stay strong! I wish you all the best!!! =)

Answer 6

You're absolutely right. Blue collar jobs keep society functioning. Most of those people who look down on you are probably $15,000 in debt, trying to have the best of everything. They only have the illusion of wealth, they probably don't make near as much as you'd think they do. People today are making very poor decisions financially, and having a college degree doesn't necessarily get you anywhere these days. I think and many of my college profs actually agree that in some cases, it's better to learn a trade. It may be viewed as "dirty work" but people will always need plumbers, electricians, construction workers, truck drivers. These aren't the people getting laid off. Don't let anyone make you feel inferior, without your job, those people wouldn't have a building to work in. I thank you and all other "blue collar" people for all you do.

Answer 7

It does seem strange doesn't it?

I think it might have something to do with snootiness. As in, "That guy can't do any better than being a garbage man. What a loser." Some of the less enlightened people equate a menial/unskilled job with some sort of social illness. I think it's a knee-jerk reaction.

Those who are a bit higher minded might treat you differently out of guilt. As in, "Oh that poor guy. He has to be a garbage man. I won't embarrass him by acknowledging him." I'll admit that I used to be that way. Now I try to be nice to everyone. In my experience the "skilled" people are pricks compared to the blue collar guys. That being said, I have come across a lot more coarse blue collar guys, but I attribute that to ignorance or lack of education.

Answer 8

Everybody looks down on somebody. People have a social pecking order just like chickens do. We like to think we're better than that, but most of us aren't.

Garbage men and construction workers are cool with me. I used to give the trash guys sodas when they passed by in the summer, but now they have those little water cooler things on the trash trucks.

Answer 9

an honest man doing an honest day's work...what's not to like about that?

the yuppie larva that look down on the working class have such weak egos that they need constant reassurance of their place in society. these are the people who assume that their porsche qualifies as a personality and their bank account will raise their children...

Answer 10

Um... not me.
The only reason you have an audience is b/c you guys are so damn hot... omg...
just today i drove past those sweaty hot construction workers... Thats why we slow down.. we dont care about running you over.. we want to see your muscles..
So.. blue collar me up baby.. i love it.