for thinking this is demeaning?

[baconandeggies]

The word 'menial', as in "He has a menial job"

It seems a bit loaded to me... Implies it's "less important" and can be looked down upon. Surely it comes from the same root as demeaning anyway?

There's nothing wrong with having a more 'manual' job..

Reminds me that a flatmate once exclaimed "I'd never marry a man who had a menial job, like a dustbin man, or a cleaner or something"

Why not just say 'manual' job, if you must describe it as anything other than the actual job title.

So does describing someone's job as 'menial' sound judgey, or AIBU?

If the word 'menial' was exchanged for the word 'shit' would it still be ok to use? e.g.

"A care assistant is a shit role compared to a doctor"

Show of hands?

Being aware of something isn't the same as going round insulting people!

What is your job, OP?

I'm a business owner in the health education field

Ok for whom? In which context? Lots of phrases would be insulting if you swapped in the word shit!

I hope your jobs doesn't involve substantial use of a) logic b) semantics

*job

Menial isn't a synonym for shit. Menial is a synonym for low skilled.
We seem to have come full circle...

Ok for whom? In which context? Lots of phrases would be insulting if you swapped in the word shit!

It's deemed appropriate by some to refer to certain roles as menial. The word menial means 'less valued' and is considered derogatory and demeaning by others.

If someone is happy referring to some jobs as menial, would they also describe those jobs as shit?

"baconandeggies

What is your job, OP?

I'm a business owner in the health education field"

Translate. Is that a bit like saying "a waste management and disposal technician"?

Someone I know once told me that the receptionist is the most important person in an organisation. I'm not sure it is true but get their gist. If there is no receptionist to your business, someone has to fill in (at a different time in my life, that was me!). The Managing Director however can get 10 days more leave than others, and business can tick over just fine.
However, cleaners and receptionists, if they go on strike or ill or whatever, can quite easily be filled in for by other people. Directors can't. Surgeons, I don't know, I don't work in a hospital or HR. My sodding gp wasn't replaced when I last had an appointment, it was cancelled.
So maybe replacability has something to do with this? Cleaner off sick, others clean. Care assistant off sick, others do personal care. Consultant off sick, either registrar flounders or cancellation.

An MP or doctor isn't a better job than a care worker or courier, for example.

are you deluded??

a doctor is a highly skilled PROFESSION, that is well paid, has high social status and is massively hugely important to a right to life. would we manage without couriers? yes we have a postal service and email. would we manage without drs?

to say they are the same/ not better is actually highly offensive to people who have spent years training and commit to a lifetime of professional learning that goes with any professional vocation.

I hope your jobs doesn't involve substantial use of a) logic b) semantics

Nice. Why are you attacking me?

I would suggest that being an excellent cleaner is harder than some people here realise, and that it is a under valued job.

And yes, a surgeon could clean her own theatre, but it's probably better to have a dedicated team for that - more cost effective, and being a surgeon doesn't mean you can clean a room as well as the people whose job it is.

Most of the improvements in health have been brought about by better sanitation.

OP, the "show of hands" thing made me think you were a teacher...

You work in education? Frightening.

Has someone referred to your job as menial, op? You seem awfully aerated on behalf of your staff

Because you're don't appear to understand either logic or semantics?

hareOrRabbit

In the sense that one role isn't objectively better than another, as 'better' will depend on what the subject requires.

being a surgeon doesn't mean you can clean a room as well as the people whose job it is. What sort of nonsense is that? There is no special training required to waft a mop about. I can do it, and I've had no training whatsoever.

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

Its all nonsense. We shouldn't worry about which part of the machine is the most important or more vital, we should be worried that they're all working well and together. The engine does not think less of the wheels for being in contact with the road.

"mirime

...and being a surgeon doesn't mean you can clean a room as well as the people whose job it is."

Not sure the surgeon would worry too much about that. Surgeons are professionals at the very top of their game, after all.

"RiverTam

You work in education? Frightening."

I thought the OP meant she ran a cafe in a college.

This attitude that there's a problem with honest hard work gets my goat. Work is work. It's not dishonourable to do a dirty badly paid job. It IS dishonourable to look down on people who do.

Have only read the first few posts but I'd disagree that cleaning doesn't require skill. Me and DH are shit at it, no attention to detail and somehow even when cleaning manage to leave the house looking a mess.

Has someone referred to your job as menial, op? You seem awfully aerated

I'm honestly not aerated at all - it's really interesting to hear the differences of opinion. I've worked in a variety of different jobs including cleaner, retail manager, and I'm now an expert in my field.

I suppose I would have been offended to hear that people consider cleaners as a 'menial role' but that's because I hear the word 'demeaning' and I know that every job has value.

In essence - and all I'm trying to say is - why put people down?