To feel embarassed/ashamed of what I do for a living?

[Exvagabond]

I'm currently working as a cleaner at £10/hour with an agency in London. I've never cleaned professionally until a few months ago, but I was desperate to find work to support my family.

Whenever someone asks me what I'm doing, I tell them and you can just tell by the look on their face that they don't approve almost as if they feel sorry for me. Why does my job make people uncomfortable?

I dont have to work, my partner supports me but I see it like this;

-My DD (4) gets 30 hours at nursery, socialising with other children and learning what I don't have the time to teach her at home

• I'm bringing money in to the household so that we can put money away for emergencies, a holiday, days out etc.

• I'm putting money in to a private pension

• I'm paying tax

• On top of this I'm a part time student, so I won't do this forever

Why am I scum to some people?

I've just applied for a cleaning job myself!

Those people who look down on you would be the first to complain if all those jobs they think are "beneath them" weren't done at all! It doesn't matter what job anyone does, all work is important. I can't stand snobs!

I also want to add, that for a long time I earned less than my cleaner, as I valued their expertise and efficiency over my time,
Cleaners are Great!

Say you’re a student if it makes you feel better?

Stop worrying about what irrelevant people think. While you perceive them to be looking down their noses, you’re quietly building your future.
I was an accountant for 35+ years and now I work in retail. If someone despises me for my job choice, what do I care, I’m happy.

A job is a job. There's nothing wrong with being a cleaner. I wouldn't look down on anyone for working- I have colleagues though that are surprised that DS has a manual job and ask me if it's a stopgap before uni. I find it insulting - why assume everyone wants to go to uni? He's working in an industry he enjoys and is paid very well, his dad would have been proud of him too. It really annoys me when people are snobby about professions.

You must never be ashamed of rolling up your sleeves and providing for your family. You are an excellent role model to your child and will help them have a good work ethic when they grow up.

I’d bloody love a cleaner. Can’t afford one though! If I could and you worked for me you would find yourself worshipped and appreciated.

Your OP made me feel quite sad. My cleaner/housekeeper is amazing. I have the greatest of respect for her.

Without her, I would not be able to work. I am studying, working full time plus I have four kids.
She works around the times when I am not at home but need someone to be there for the kids.

If she quit, I don't know what I would do. She is the glue that holds my life together and I hope that she knows how appreciated and valued she is. Our whole family adore her.

A friend does cleaning - she is a highly qualified professional, but chooses to do this as it fits her lifestyle. She does not have to pay to belong to professional bodies; she can pick and choose her hours to fit in with the family; she can make sure she earns just below the tax threshold, so no faffing with tax returns; and some people she charges £14 an hour. Nice little earner! She does not seem the slightest bit embarrassed; quite right too!

Good cleaners are worth their weight in gold.

It's bloody hard work for shit pay. Why be embarrassed that you want to work and are willing to do whatever that work is?

I’ve had a cleaner in the past - have one again now and I’ve also worked as a cleaner in a domestic setting .
Anyone who looks down on the job is not merely misguided but stupid .

Don’t let anyone make you feel like this ! X

I worked as a cleaner for a while. Nothing to be ashamed of at all. Telling people and then watching their response was useful and helped me avoid unpleasant snobbish people .

Cleaning is a very important job. It's making everything better. If it was men's work it would be more respected.

I have done it and enjoyed it. It should be better paid. Feel proud

You must be imagining this OP.
Whenever i meet someone who is a professional cleaner, I automatically assume that they immediately know that I am a closet slattern and will judge me. Cleaning is a skill, I'm crap at it, and I am very impressed by people who do it so well they get paid for it.
You're doing a family-friendly flexible job, and planning for the future. You should be proud of yourself.

The only time I've ever had an issue with a cleaner was the one that clattered into the ward at 6am after DS had been born via emergency section at 2am and I'd not got to sleep until 5, after a full 36 hours awake. I'd have cheerfully beaten get with the bin she was changing.

Other than that, it's a job and some people are arseholes. No need to feel any shame. For a while I worked in a small cafe washing dishes and waitressing. Some people looked down on it. I loved it. It was busy, so the time went quickly, it was deeply satisfying getting everything clean, it fitted in perfectly around school and preschool hours and I could leave at the end of every shift and not think about it again until I my next shift. I left because I was head hunted by a previous employer who wanted me to return to a pre DC job. It paid better and some might argue that it sounded better in conversation. But it came with its own set of challenges that included not being able to leave work at work. Honestly? I preferred the cafe.

When I was diagnosed with cancer last year, the chemo made me too weak to be able to do any cleaning. I pay a local lovely woman £20for two hours every week. I can’t tell you how much stress she relives me of. I need the house to be clean and uncluttered to offset the chaos and darkness of chemo.

I say this with absolute sincerity OP, it’s an honest job which probably contributes more than you know to the mental health of others.

My sister used to clean in an old people's home, she worked hard and cared a lot for the residents there, was sad when they died.

I used to try and chat to a coloumbian cleaner in the office where I used to work (I can't speak Spanish and she couldn't speak English but we were friendly). When I brought my baby in during mat leave the cleaner was so lovely, held my baby and was hugging her, hugging me.

Cleaners are our colleagues, they are part of the workforce in offices, hospitals and so on, they're doing an essential job that we'd miss more than most jobs if they didn't do it.

There are much more controversial jobs, like traffic wardens, debt collectors.

To be honest, I'd like to hear more about the vivisectionists. I'm surprised the woman did it if she felt so strongly about it.

When in 6th form at school, my daughter got a job actually cleaning the 6th form centre...inc the boys loos (and we all know how shocking they can be!!)
I was surprised as I thought she would balk at the idea of getting the mickey taken out of her by her mates.
Interestingly, the job was actually applied for by loads of the students and you were envied if you got the position. It was well paid and a good little team.
Maybe, just maybe, youngsters these days are growing up with a better attitude to what some see as 'menial' jobs and perhaps more 6th forms should do this (or maybe they already do).
My mum worked in a supermarket in the evenings when I was little and then did a cleaning job when I was older. I must admit to being a bit embarrassed, as a teen, when friends found out that my mum was a cleaner, but as I got older, I had nothing but respect for her, as she was a widow and brought me up all on her own - supporting me with her cleaning money.
Absolutely NO shame in earning a decent living and supporting your family!

Nothing to be embarrassed about. Anyone treating you badly for it is outing themselves as an asshole that you need not speak to anymore. Consider that they’ve done you a favour showing their true colours.

OP this is a reflection on them not you. I grew up in a poor household in an extremely rich area. My father was one of the most intelligent and pragmatic people I have ever known in my 50 years on this planet. However his salary (as a 'vocation' type post) did not reflect this. All my mates were living the dream and I admit this was hard andI felt inferior growing up.
I had saturday jobs from about 13 and have been to university a total of three times as an undergraduate and then post graduate. I have worked almost full time throughout including being a support worker, cleaner and in a call centre. And yes, people treat you like shite and assume you are stupid. I still get angry about a few incidents now.
I have ended up in a professional role as a senior worker, but as it is child protection so I cannot pretend things have improved much! When I was a senior nurse people seemed value my profession more even though I have far greater responsibility and automony as a social worker.
Lots of people just seem incapable of seeing outside of their tiny world vision. I have raised my daughter in an amazing northern city, she has a wonderful local accent, attends an outstanding school and is predicted brilliant grades. When we head back to the home counties people totally under estimate her intelligence and potential because of the way she talks and ability to be friendly and inclusive.

I’m a cleaner. I took on the job to support my family having left a skilled job paying 50k a year. I made the decision to bring up my baby and not go back to my very stressful job until he was older. I enjoy cleaning the office I work in it keeps me fit and it is stress free for a fair wage. In the main the staff in the office are lovely and treat me like one of the team the only people who don’t give me the time of day or looks I get are from those 20 something admin girls who turn up to work looking like Kylie Jenner probably on a lower hourly rate than me. Regardless, I know my self worth and I take pride in whatever job I chose to do. You should be incredibly proud you are providing for your own family and not settling for handouts, you sound like you have a great work ethic and I applaud you.

I left a full time job in education and got a part time job as a cleaner because I was very depressed.

I stick an audiobook on and just get on with it. Nobody bothers me; it’s bloody marvellous!

I don’t care what anyone thinks either- I’m good at it!

You are inspirational- working for your family - no one is above or better than you and if they think they are then they are the scum. Cleaning is a hard physical job. You're doing what you can at least you're not sitting at home doing nothing. Carry on doing what you're doing ignore the ignorant ppl

I have mentioned this on here before, because I get looked down onto. I have a disability, so for one thing they don’t think I’m capable, and they don’t expect much out of me… And then they think my job isn’t “a real one.“ But, I have one awards from my work, I have done far more than other people were able bodied and I have an open mind… So really? People who judge aren’t worth being around. I have a lot of supportive people around me, and that’s the way I like it.

Its nothing to judge. People need to get their heads out of their arses.
It's a job that provides a wage that's what matters.

I respect you.