Job Stereotypes That Get Under Your Skin

**forHISglory** · 01-09-2008, 05:38 PM

A lot of you are working women, or have been in the past. I'm a retired teacher, but still teach a couple of courses at the University near us. During all the years that I taught, I heard so many statements made about teachers that just made me grit my teeth. What stereotypes do you hear about your job, and what is the truth?

Stereotypes about teaching:

1. It must be nice to have your summers and all those holidays off.
2. Teachers are overpaid, and the school still keeps asking for more money.
3. Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.
4. Well, when I was in school, teachers __________ (fill in the blank).

This is just a partial list. And here's the truth about these statements.

1. Nice? Yes, of course. Except that I went to summer school on my own dime to be certified as the state requires. Holidays? Yes, of course. That's when I grade research papers. A typical 2 week Christmas "vacation" for me includes taking time on Christmas Day to be with family, and putting in 12 hours a day the rest of the time grading. And how about those evenings? When I wasn't directing the play, or coaching the speech team and taking them to tournaments, or working with the newspaper/yearbook kids to meet a deadline, or taking tickets at the game or dance, or supervising an all school activity, then I was grading or making lesson plans at home. The usual ratio is that for every hour I teach in the classroom, I put in another hour at home in the evening, and the same on Saturday and Sunday.

2. All businesses ask for more money. Overhead costs keep rising for everyone. I taught about 160 students a day. When I retired, my salary was slightly over $40,000. And that was with 30+ years of experience and a master's degree plus hours. Now..... compare that with other professionals, such as a doctor or lawyer. Do any of them treat 160 patients or clients a day? And few make the salary that I made. A really good payraise for us usually was about $250-300 a year.

3. Grrr....... Teaching IS doing! I was skilled, trained, and passed it on to students who would grow up to be successful. Don't tell me I only teach because I can't do anything else!

4. Like the world around us, teaching keeps evolving and trying to keep up with technology and the times. No, we don't do all things as they were done 50 years ago. Would you want your banking done as it was then? Your medical care? Would you want no computers in the schools? No, I didn't carry wood for the fire in the pot bellied stove or tote water for the kiddies to drink, thankfully!

Ok, I feel better now! How about you? What misconceptions are there about your job?

**ilovechocolate** · 01-09-2008, 05:54 PM

As a teacher, I agree with everything you've said.

Here's another one: "You only have to work from 8 to 3 each day and then you get to go home."

Oh, how I wish this was true. I am at work by 7:30 each a.m. and work till at least 4:15 or 4:30 due to afternoon duties of various kinds, meetings, etc. This is on a GOOD day. There are many many days that I am at work till much later. I have had meetings from 3:30-7:30 at night. This is not all that unusual, actually.

Teachers put up with this kind of life because of the intrinsic satisfaction we get from working with youngsters. We sure don't get much respect or financial rewards but there is no other feeling that compares when you know that you have made a positive difference in the life of a child.

**Tango** · 01-09-2008, 06:08 PM

I have a couple that I have to work really hard not to let get under my skin. I work as a care aide at a nursing home and the common misconceptions are:
1. That we should go get an education.
2. That we are dirt poor and must be desparate to do this kind of work.
There are many more but I find these the hardest to shake off.
I do have a college education in a different field. I have choosen to work in this field because I am a compasionate and caring person who enjoys serving others especially those who can not help themselves. Yes, sometimes it's dirty difficult work, but I can make someone comfortable or happy who is at a vunerable and scary time in thier life. What's more fulfilling than that. As for being dirt poor, I can definately tell you that no one does this job for the big bucks. However most the people I know in this field also have husbands that work and live middle class lifestyles.

**Jskell911** · 01-09-2008, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Tango

I have a couple that I have to work really hard not to let get under my skin. I work as a care aide at a nursing home and the common misconceptions are:
1. That we should go get an education.
2. That we are dirt poor and must be desparate to do this kind of work.
There are many more but I find these the hardest to shake off.
I do have a college education in a different field. I have choosen to work in this field because I am a compasionate and caring person who enjoys serving others especially those who can not help themselves. Yes, sometimes it's dirty difficult work, but I can make someone comfortable or happy who is at a vunerable and scary time in thier life. What's more fulfilling than that. As for being dirt poor, I can definately tell you that no one does this job for the big bucks. However most the people I know in this field also have husbands that work and live middle class lifestyles.

My first job (had for 8 yrs) was a dietary aide and cook in a nursing home. The work you aides do is absolutely wonderful! I just had to get that in from someone who saw it first hand. It is absolutely shocking how little interaction some of the residents get. Sometimes a kind hairbrushing with one can make all the difference to them!

As to teachers, well, total admiration to those as well! I originally went to school for that and realised I just did not have what it took!

**Jskell911** · 01-09-2008, 06:21 PM

Now, my job as a car rental agent, well..... don;t you know we are all snake oil salesmen trying to scr**w you out of your $$ for stuff you would never need??? Yeah, right. Tell that to the guy who totalled our car and paid a high deductable, loss of use, and higher insurance premiums for 3 years.

I hate that people come to my counter like I am some dishonest jerk and treat me like I so do not matter and they are just not going to listen to anything I have to say. I have had 12 years experience and some of the situations I have seen or the classes that are mandated of me mean nothing.

OK off my

Sorry

**annymoll** · 01-09-2008, 06:27 PM

"Sleeping as soundly as a night nurse on duty". Need I say more?

**monkeywrangler71** · 01-09-2008, 06:48 PM

I used to work in a bank and when I was meeting people I would never say where I worked.
Stranger: "What do you do?"
Me: "Stuff..Hey, look at that!"

As soon as you tell someone you work in a bank they immediately go off on a tirade about their service charges, their interest rates, or some error a teller made in their account six years beforehand. Then they comment on how great it must be to work 'banker's hours' - I worked 8:30-5:30, the loan/investment officers worked into the wee hours (until they cracked, then they would be replaced) - despite the fact that the bank hadn't closed at 3PM in about 20 years (and those people didn't get to go home at 3, they had to stay and process all the work). People would also comment that I must be making a lot of money just because the company makes billions every year.

I worked really hard at my job; I cared about my customers and I went way out of my way to help a lot of people with things that I didn't have to help them with. It really didn't seem to matter to any of them though, people hate the bank and everyone in it no matter what you do for them. I hated doing a job that I cared about and being embarrassed to admit to it in public. Pretty hard to work in a place where every person walking through the door automatically despises you. Only place I've ever worked where I saw grown men crying, regularly.

One day I was trying to wait on someone while he was talking on his cell phone, the person on the other end asked where he was and he responded that he was "just at the bank machine". That was pretty much the defining moment of my banking career.

**Jskell911** · 01-09-2008, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

One day I was trying to wait on someone while he was talking on his cell phone, the person on the other end asked where he was and he responded that he was "just at the bank machine". That was pretty much the defining moment of my banking career.

I feel your pain!

**AmyBoz** · 01-09-2008, 07:02 PM

I'm a teacher, as well, and you have it on every misconception and snarky remark I've ever heard.

**monkeywrangler71** · 01-09-2008, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jskell911

Now, my job as a car rental agent, well..... don;t you know we are all snake oil salesmen trying to scr**w you out of your $$ for stuff you would never need??? Yeah, right. Tell that to the guy who totalled our car and paid a high deductable, loss of use, and higher insurance premiums for 3 years.

I hate that people come to my counter like I am some dishonest jerk and treat me like I so do not matter and they are just not going to listen to anything I have to say. I have had 12 years experience and some of the situations I have seen or the classes that are mandated of me mean nothing.

OK off my

Sorry

Every time my husband rents a car we have to plan for an extra 1/2 hour to get the paperwork/keys etc, because the girl working there is ALWAYS getting screamed at by someone, either on the phone or in person, for at least 20 minutes. I've had to pick up his cars before, and they are very friendly and accommodating; he rents a lot of cars and they have never screwed up anything, so it isn't as if it is an incompetent group or anything, but they are constantly getting told off.

**stinkbug** · 01-09-2008, 07:11 PM

I'm a house wife:

*Must be nice to sit home all day and do nothing.
*Must be nice that your husband makes so much money you don't have to work.
*Why don't you get a job?
*Aren't you bored?

I could go on and on....gah. Also the assumption that I'm lazy,.. ..no brain, no education.....Just a housewife.

**kmsinsa** · 01-09-2008, 07:12 PM

I work in the IT field which is dominated by men. In my current position, I am typically the only female at meetings and often the youngest. I also have alot of experience that they don't have...yet because I am a young female, my opinion is often discredited.

**outnumbered** · 01-09-2008, 07:22 PM

I work in a library and the common misconception is that the library is full of crotchety old women who are bitter and tell everyone to hush all the time. Sure, there ARE those who fit that, but there are even more "weirdo's" like me...

Then, we get those patrons who question if the world actually NEEDS libraries and librarians anymore....but I can't get started on THAT right now...

**inneedofhope** · 01-09-2008, 08:27 PM

I coordinate a parenting education program. The comment I usually get when i tell people I'm a parenting educator is, "so you tell people what they should already know?" That one really gets me.
Others don't really get what I do so they assume I play with little kids all day (OK, so yes i do get to play sometimes, but that's not what I'm REALLY doing).
Many people will assume that I'm a volunteer or that I'm a paraprofessional. Yes, I have a four year degree, certifications, and ongoing training required for my position.
I also don't share what I do with people I don't know well. I run the risk of hearing all the stories about how social services has done them wrong, or their opinions on child abuse and discipline, that frankly i don't need to be thinking about on my down time.

**KJayEsq** · 01-09-2008, 08:32 PM

I'm a lawyer -

You name it...it's been said about me!!

In addition to the typical lawyer jabs, I also get "well it must be nice to make your salary."

Yeah - it's nice, but I had to go to school a total of 7 years and came out of law school with over $100,000 in student loan debt. I do not have any sick days or vacation days. If I'm sick, it costs me. If I take a vacation, well I'd better have billed a ton of hours before and after I go to make up the difference. I'm never able to let the job go either...it's with me 24/7 with the stress, worry, and clients calling the cell phone. The pay is decent, but I earn every penny of it.