So I got a job as a receptionist at a car dealership. Don’t congratulate me just yet – it’s a very sleazy place. I mean – you walk out feeling like you ought to take a shower to rid yourself of the slime.
Yesterday was my first day. I admit that part of me wanted to walk out more than once. I kept thinking, “I’m too good for this place… for these people“. The other receptionists are nice, but do dress a bit – uhm – scandalously. And the salesmen and male managers are creepy (at best). One of them actually came over and asked us (the receptionists) if we were wearing underwear. The other women just laughed and made some sexual joke, while I gave him the look-of-death.
I knew it was going to be a tough place for me to work from when the owner (while interviewing me) managed to slander Eastern Europeans, Turks, and homosexuals in just under 8 minutes.
The thing is that as much as I wanted to leave, I kept reminding myself that despite everything – I’m not above these people. I’m not more important or more human.
I don’t know how long I’ll work there – the truth is that if something else comes up I will likely take it. But it’s a good reminder that as much as I truly care about the poor and uneducated people in the world – the irony is I am often prejudiced against them and feel as if I’m better than them.
It’s something I’m working on.
4th May 06
ChildOfZion_1984:
I’ve been guilty of feeling ‘better’ than the handicapped people at Wright State University. Because of the layout of the college, it is handicapped accessible and easy for them to get around… so we have a high handicapped population.
I need to remind myself that they are just as much of a human as I am, even if I can’t understand what they say.
God brings us to different places for a reason. It’s always a good thing when He teaches us and humbles us. That’s cool that He’s teaching you humility. It’s a great thing to have.
4 years ago
bullmeister: I was just thinking the same thing.4 years ago
theScalesandtheScorpion: Yeah, look for another job. Or you could nail them w/ a harrassment suit.4 years ago
Eccentrique: Interesting observations about the poor. I like Argilemagne’s pithy aphorism above.
When I graduated from college many years ago, my plan was to identify with the poor, the lumpenproletariat, by working with them and helping to enlighten them while working toward the Revolution. I discovered that the poor, for the most part, didn’t particularly want to be enlightened, and weren’t very pleasant to be around. But I still identify with them.4 years ago
osubeth: miss you like crazy. been too busy to be on xanga in forever. this is the first of your blogs i have read since you left! super proud of you and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit forming you into the image of Christ! and who knows, maybe God will open a door and you will be able to introduce them to the One who will do the same for them. sounds like fun.4 years ago
jaykhatter:
Reading this, I want to laugh and then hug you.
4 years ago
lew829: I like RegularGoy’s comment! I do struggle, though, to place myself in the shoes of a person offering sexual harrassment. I am not quite sure that sexual harrassment is a reflection of a socioeconomic level–any man or woman can sexually harrass regardless of income level. I’m not quite sure how to be compassionate in that situation and I’m not sure I want to be. I dream of being that quick whitted individual who can offer some humorous statement in return that communicates levity and yet disgust for their comment. Somehow those comments never quite reach me when my internal dialogue consists of “Hell no he did not just say that.” 4 years ago
sherylshearer:
2d that–congrats on the job??? … yeah, these circumstances are challenging, to say the least. personally, i dislike the “pottery wheel” places God throws us into to grow. ick. but after it’s all said and done, we know it was good, albeit one of the most painful, ugly seasons. your teachable spirit and honesty are great.
4 years ago
SuedeKnight: You know what, just become an umpire. We can be partners, you can give me rides. I can totally crash course you on the rules. The best part is when one team doesn’t show. It’s fun :)4 years ago
strawberry14: good for you on a teachable spirit.4 years ago
Argilemagne: It’s easy to be for the poor but much harder to be with them.4 years ago
RegularGoy:
Uh, congratulations on the job?
In my own job, an astonishing number of white low-income Wisconsinites who call my office say racist things while they’re on the phone. It’s always the same: “Now, I’m not a prejudiced person, but…” and then cue spiel about how our program treats the Hmong preferentially, or about how “the blacks” are living off of our program, or about all the “illegals” who get benefits.
At first I was upset, until I realized: they’re ashamed to need help, and they express that shame by transferring it to racial minorities. It’s still racism, of course; but realizing where it comes from helps me feel compassion rather than contempt for them. It puts me in their shoes and helps me focus on our common humanity and not our respective social positions.
4 years ago
balticblond:
It is irony, isn’t it. Reminds me of the “Stefanie Story” where God spoke to my heart the wods… “…you know the gutter she’s in?… don’t forget I pulled you out of the very same gutter…” It was a hard word, but totally true and helped me to get back in perspective again.
4 years ago
tree25: Hey….soooo….gonna get away from the sleaze-center long enough to come over tonight?? Melina’s coming over just to meet you!! :-)
Anyway…I did the car dealership receptionist thing. Just remember, you need a job. And so do these people. People will go to great lengths to keep a job, because some people need it desperately and CAN’T get anything better. Stick with it as long as you can, and thank your lucky stars if you’re able to move on :-)4 years ago
SuedeKnight: Times like this where I kinda hope a customer of high morals comes along, hears the owner or a salesman, and just tears into the way they talk. Customers can say a lot of things that co-workers can’t. And that could help make Esther’s week.
That’s just how I feel reading that. I should probably note that I’m doing research on James Frey right now, so that probably skews my opinion a lil’ bit :P4 years ago
jamminjim: “I’m not above these people. I’m not more important or more human.”
Does that include sales managers? I kinda thought they were a lower form of life…
Seriously though, dealerships are notoriously dishonest and disreputable places. I wouldn’t fault you for quitting. Especially when there’s sexual references being passed around. Very unprofessional. Something like that could easily get a company sued for sexual harrassment.4 years ago
basementdweller: wow..I’ll be praying for you in your new field….take care…4 years ago