To ask whether you judge someone based on their occupation?

[lushilaoshi]

I am sometimes judged (I think) a bit harshly based on my occupation. It can be a bit of a conversation killer, sometimes.

So without revealing yet what I actually do, if I were to say (for instance) that I am a City lawyer, what assumptions would you make about me? Would you take an instant dislike? Versus if I were to tell you that I am, for example, a languages teacher?

I think I can predict some answers, but I am curious about what characteristics are attributed to certain occupations, and whether justified. And in particular, whether gender makes any difference to your judgement?

Cross posts! Obviously not. I was going on your username.

I used to hate admitting I was a lawyer. Sometimes I used to say I was a secretary to avoid the scorn.

tattoo artist is an awesome job. I couldn't shoulder that kind of responsibility!!!

I get annoyed when people think they're doing ME a favor (sorry, i've been at the wine xD)

haha poofus. the username was not unintentional...

I've got a degree in French and business and am currently working pt in mcd's. Hate it with a passion! However, it suits our current situation whilst I decide what I really want to do, possibly law.
My dad said something along the lines of "never mind barrister, more likely barista hahaha" yeah thanks for the vote of confidence:)

Met a young couple with 2 little girls at the park last year, both a bit scruffy looking, putting it kindly ( the parents not the children) got chatting, both were GP's. I was so surprised but don't actually know why, possibly their age.

I never assume someone who works as a check out person, bar staff, sales person in a car dealership or kitchens or whatever is thick. Plenty of people with good degrees doing those jobs.

My electrician has a massive house in a good area. I guess he could be seen as not super bright/high flying?

No, I would not judge someone because of their occupation. For example, having three elderly relatives in the care system one way or another, I am full of admiration for care assistants who do jobs I am not prepared to do for a family member and for a low wage.

I was a divorce lawyer for 25 years.

The response was almost always:

a. Ha ha I may need you one day (seriously, gimme your card)

b. How can you make money out of others' misfortunes

or

c. God how horrible.

But mostly a.

PInechester

I am sure your electrician is super bright!! :)

My MILKMAN lives in a fuck-off house in the posh side of town and collects my milk money driving a 4x4 with a personalised number plate.

I hate it when people treat people doing what they consider to be inferior jobs with contempt. I used to work in a shop, and some people were just unbelievably, jaw dropping rude. like I was subhuman or something. and don't even get me started on finger clicking at wait staff...

I get the whole "paedophile" thing. Usually in the form of "why would a man want to work with children?" insinuations.

And then there's the "nursery staff just play all day", and "Must be thick" stuff that people come out with.

I have a job that most people think is really interesting but is boring as hell 99% of the time (customs officer)

Yep, I judge/make assumptions and then inwardly kick myself for doing so. Am used to my profession being judged a lot too. I think people's minds like sorting things into neat little boxes. Love proving people wrong.

Egg 'I work in IT' is my standard response - I administrate and troubleshoot SANs and a couple of NAS boxes too. So few non-IT people know what one is (and a fair few IT people don't know either), that it usually just easier to use the standard IT line. Ask me about it, though, and I can make your eyes cross with boredom!

If people won't elaborate, it's probably because they can't. There are a few environments that I can't talk about, well I could, but then I'd have to kill you.

this is so interesting. I think someone mentioned earlier in the thread that it made them uncomfortable when people ask them what they do early in a conversation. I am guilty of this, but not because I want to establish some kind of hierarchy - more because people do really interesting things and its a good way to start a conversation.

egg I also say "I work in IT" because if I say my actual job title it sounds like I work in a completely different field of intetior design! people say that because some of the roles are genuinely incomprehensible if you've never come across them - nothing to do with intelligence levels

ghostys I'm a CA too. I always enjoy it when everyone tells me how shit the careers advice they got at school was.

loletta, I feel that way about a lot of migrant workers in the UK. many of them (eastern Europeans particularly) are highly educated but are picking vegetables in the UK because wages are so low in their home country. I used to do a Saturday job with a Slovakian guy who had a PhD in neuroscience. we worked in a call centre not that working in a call centre is bad of course, but his talents were wasted.

My friend is a mobile hairdresser. She's also a qualified secondary teacher and speaks several languages. She said customers act totally different around her depending on whether or not she tells them.

I am a librarian. I often get "you must read a lot of books then".
Because obviously we just have to sit and read them all?! and of course I would never just read when at work.

Also, people don't realise it's a professional job and you need a degree or postgraduate qualification.
Anytime a librarian is mentioned in the media or portrayed in a film, TV they are geeky with buns and glasses, cardigans etc. I don't know anyone like that!