People make me feel like I should be ashamed of my job profession

[HappyGoGoLucky]

When will it be acceptable to just tell them to fuck off?!

I work within a company doing housekeeping and laundry service and currently in the process of setting up my own iron business from home.

I absolutely enjoy not only my job but the company I work for too. I am not good at anything else except housekeeping side of things. I prefer to be physical and to keep busy and enjoy organising clothes, ironing, cleaning, and can't beat the satisfaction of a nice, clean and fresh household and I work hard for what I do (I am not OCD by the way). However, all I've ever had from people I know,

"Do you want to do this for the rest of your life"

"Is that what you do, clean shitty toilets?"

"(talking about me to someone else), Yeah but she's a housekeeper... what kind of job is that?"

"Maybe it is time for you to just get a different job"

"Not exactly a role model for (my sons name), is it?"

I'm not an academic person. I never have been. I've tried to in the past but I just haven't got the intellectual skills to do so. But I am sick and tired of people judging me for what I do. At least I'm working and at least I am providing for my family. My DH is just as bad! He is constantly belittling me about what job I do. Every argument we have, he tells me to get a better job.

I wish I was more like you OP! I'm a thinker and can rattle off letters/pieces of writing/drawings/learn piano pieces very easily. I can't for the life of me tidy/clean a room!

I admire you

At uni I had a mate dated a charming,funny,kind guy who was the one she was v mc,and her friends/family disapproved of him and his regular council job
She used to go in at him to go to uni,change jobs etc,generally berate him
It drove them apart,he subsequently married and has a family is v happy
She dated posh boys,city boys whom her family approved of,but were utter gits
To this day she’s never dated a man who was as nice to her or with whom she connected
Shame that snobbery and perceived job status got in the way

Reading the title I thought job was
Psychiatrist
Social worker
health visitor
Direct telemarketing
Estate agent
Property developer

Anyone who acts like they are superior to you is being a dick! You have a job that is in demand, supports your family and you are good at and enjoy. All our jobs are part of society and one isn't superior to another.

Maybe your friends/husband would prefer everyone was a rocket science but that would be boring wouldn't it, not to mention the rocket scientists would be walking around nude, hungry and with dirty homes (or I guess huts as builders wouldn't exist).

X post with LipstickHandbagCoffee, me too, I thought you were going to say you were CEO of a tobacco company or have a job denying claims in insurance companies.

I work as a carer and I get the same attitude, it makes me sad that we are seen as somehow lesser in society.

You've honed in on what you're good at.

You have a marketable skill.

You're setting up you're own business.

You're earning money.

You love what you do.

Now is the time to tell anyone who doesn't like it to fuck off. Including your husband.

Yeah, because we don't need clean operating theatres, commercial kitchens, bathrooms or homes, do we?
Good, trustworthy, reliable people who can help keep us all clean and tidy are massively desired on MN, and everywhere else, I'm sure.
People will always need cleaners and people to do their ironing. I wish you every success with your enterprise, and hope you continue to love what you do. That is worth a huge amount.
'Where there's muck there's brass'

You enjoy your job, that's something to be very happy about and it doesn't matter a fig what the job is. Just keep enjoying lass. Leave the misery guts to their miserableness.

Do you earn more than your DH? Just wondered if he was jealous.

Thank god youre good at that and enjoy it. We need people doing all sorts of jobs. Personally Im crap at what you are good at so I would pay for that.

I love my job. I help people if they have physical problems, such as hip pain, back pain etc.

I once was working with a client who was a housekeeper for a hotel. He clearly would have hated my job, as he said when he saw what I had to do, he realised he really did have a dream job.

One person's dream job is another person's nightmare.

You are blessed to have found something you enjoy doing and it pays you. Sod anyone that looks down at you.

If the cleaners and housekeepers of the world stopped working, it wouldn't be long before everyone noticed. If the CEOs stopped doing their thing, I bet it would take a helluva a lot longer!

I know what you mean OP. I have a job that is regarded as low status and it does get me down. Like you I know that the work I do is useful and makes a positive and measurable difference to people's lives, but if you have a job that other people think of as low status it does grind down your sense of self esteem. I'm not sure what the answer is.

I’m a cleaner. I work for myself. I set my own wages which is above min wage. I work the hours I want to work and they fit around my family. I take as much holiday as I need. Anyone who has a problem with what I do can get lost.

I know for a fact the people I work for really appreciate me. And I love leaving a house smelling all clean and tidy.

I listen to my audio books when I’m cleaning and they are my favourite. If I have music on I dance the day away. Quite frankly anyone who says it is the lowest of the lowest can get knotted.

They’re probably just jealous that they don’t love their own jobs and can’t afford a cleaner.

I have a cleaner and an ironing lady, they do a brilliant job and are worth every penny, I would never for one minute think they/their profession are less worthy than me/mine.

Can I also just say on behalf of my terminally ill mum that her cleaner and her carer are absolutely awesome and we are so grateful for the job they do, professionally and treating my mum with dignity.

I opened the thread expecting you to be an estate agent or Theresa May. Absolutely nothing wrong with being a cleaner. Your DH is a dick.

Tell them all to do one, including your dh, he's the worst imo.

@HappyGoGoLucky
I am not perfect in any way, shape of form lol.

My dear, who is?? You have an honest, honourable, regular job, not sitting on your hands expecting handouts from anyone. More than that you enjoy what you do (so many don't) and your skills are in demand.

I'd love someone to do my housekeeping and laundry ..

Pay no notice to small minded people (including your husband who should be proud of you) and keep doing what you are good at. 🌹

I’m a retired doctor, and I can tell you that cleaners and dustbinmen do more for the health of the nation than any doctor does!
You should be proud of your job, of the fact that you do it well, with a good professional attitude, and that it makes you happy and gives you some physical exercise.
I’m only sorry that the remuneration of such jobs is often way below their actual value and usefulness, while we hugely reward useless celebrities for simply being famous. Hold your head high, OP.

I also thought you were going to say that your job was something immoral.

Just ignore them. I appreciate my cleaner so much, he does a fantastic job. It genuinely makes me happy when I get home the day he’s been and the house is all lovely. Also I trust him 100% so don’t need to worry about him having a key. I live in fear that one day he will move away / change jobs. I can say with 100% confidence that none of my clients feel that about me (I’m a lawyer).

*@crazyee *
I work in admin. I've felt ashamed of my job and embarrassed by it..

But why? Again it's an honest job which you earn money at and contribute to society through your taxes. And I bet nobody complains when you use those admin skills to the home? Transferable skills which you can also comfortably take to another job or use as a springboard for a more senior role if you ever desired.

Don't let people make you feel less than you are!! 🌹

My DH recently lost his job. He has a PhD in marine biology, and worked as a scientist, but never really found a job that fit. Losing his job gave him the shove up the backside to set up his own business. As a handyman.

He is soooo much happier. I married a scientist, not a tradesman, and I couldn't be more proud of him. Your 'people' should respect the fact that you have found a job that you love and gives you satisfaction.

I think you're great! Your friends and family comment is a reflection of them and not you. How awful having to listen to this. Your DH should be supportive.

My job was described on TV recently as the most boring job there is. My DH thinks it’s boring too (although he is supportive etc). When I tell people what I do I can tell they thinks it’s either boring or they are wary.

However I love my job. I find it interesting and I am really motivated to do it well. So I understand how you fell OP. The trick is, to know your own value and not care what anyone else thinks.