You and your parents sit down at a restaurant, and the server turns out to be your professor. It could be awkward. It could be embarrassing. And it could also lead to some serious thinking and questioning about our attitudes toward different kinds of jobs. Brittany Bronson is a college instructor, waitress, and contributor to the New York Times, where this article was published in December 2014.
Read it here: Bronson, “Your waitress, your professor”
- At the beginning of her essay, Bronson gives the impression that she is embarrassed by her job as a waitress and feels somewhat ashamed to be found out. As the essay develops, a different impression emerges. Where and how in her essay does Bronson make the shift? Point to specific passages to support your response.
- As a personal reflection, Bronson’s essay does not respond directly to any other author or authors; still, there is a substantial amount of They Say in her essay. What is it? What form does it take? How does she respond to it?
- Bronson concedes that the blue-collar, non-college-educated people with whom she works “are some of the kindest, hardest-working people I know…and I find it difficult to tell my students to avoid being like them.” Still, she is not arguing that higher education is not worthwhile. What, exactly, is she arguing? Do you agree? Why or why not?
- How might you feel if you went to a restaurant with your parents and your server turned out to be one of your teachers? Would you have more respect for the teacher? Less? Why? Would you treat the server more respectfully? Less? Why? Write an essay addressing all of these questions; finally, discuss your internal process of reconciling the dual roles of the teacher/server with whom you interact.
They Say I Blog 
This is a great topic for conversation with students. I think, initially, a student might see the teacher in a different light, since teaching is a “profession” and the student is in training to enter a profession. Finding out that the profession that’s being modelled is not one that supports an adult lifestyle or family can be disillusioning. In the student’s shoes, I might be more respectful, knowing that the teacher is working hard to help students (especially if that teacher spends time outside of the classroom working with students). I might also begin to question my own career path and investigate salary, benefits, and security options.
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If I went to a restaurant and I saw my teacher was the server, I would first think to myself “Is that my teacher?” Then I would tell myself and my parents that she is just doing this on the side to help her family and stay stable most likely, but I don’t like to assume things I don’t know. I also would’t assume that she is broke and trying to find a way to survive. I would still have full respect for her, and talk to her like I would talk to her in class. Eventually I would have more respect for her, for juggling two jobs together and doing her best to wake up early to come teach her students without showing that she hates what she is doing.
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1) Bronson gives off the impression that she is embarrassed by her job as a waitress, but story goes on you can see that her opinion is changing. We can feel this change in paragraph nine, when she says that being a blue-collar worker doesn’t mean it is an inferior work. 2) She is talking in first person all the time, and she’s telling her own experience and feelings about how to work as a waitress. 3) She is arguing the fact of being a waitress doesn’t mean they are inferior to the rest of the socially best-looking works. That being a hard-worker or kind person doesn’t depend on if they have graduated or not. I completely agree with the writer, you don’t have to judge people for the kind of work they are doing. 4) If I went to a restaurant with my parents and my server turned out to be one of my teachers I would be shocked. I would never relate my teacher with a waitress. After that I would probably try to think of the reasons as to why she needs to work extra hours as a waitress. I would think she does it because she needs that money, and I would be sorry for her, because I know that is not her fault, that the problem is the society where we live, where teachers have to work extra hours as a waitress to be able to survive. I would feel more respect to her because I would understand all the effort she is doing to be able to achieve her dreams while handling two jobs at the same time.
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Working two jobs shows that Bronson is a hard worker, however she is initially embarrassed because she cannot make a living off of one salary. Further into her essay, she seems to change her thoughts on her situation. In paragraph ten, Bronson begins to look at things in a different way. She starts defending herself, as well as her co-workers. Bronson says that none of them are failures. In addition, she refers to her co-workers as “some of the hardest-working people she knows.” In her essay, Bronson is telling her audience about her experience in the work force. She tells us about working two jobs, which might make people give her credit for her hard work. Her essay argues that people that don’t make large amounts of money are not inferior to others that do have a big salary. I do agree with her argument. No person should be judged on the amount of money they make. What matters in the end is what makes a person happy. If I saw one of my teachers at a restaurant, I might feel a little awkward at first because I would not expect to see him or her there. However, seeing my teacher as a server would make me realize how hard he or she has to work. I would most likely respect my teacher even more, because I respect people that work hard. Honestly, I would be nicer to my teacher/server because I know how much hard work he or she has to do to make a living. To be extra nice, I might leave a better tip than I normally would.
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1) Bronson is embarrassed when she first talks about being a waitress, she is able to feel less embarrassed about having this blue-collared job as she talks about it more. In the fifth paragraph she talks about how many jobs like waitressing have better pay with fewer hours than entry level jobs that desire a degree. Later on she also mentions how her co-workers at her blue-collared job have many other talents and are also working for the extra money because their main job doesn’t bring in enough money. 2)They, the students and their parents, that see their teacher waitressing and Bronson seems to think that they immediately think how awful it is that their student is getting taught by a waitress. Bronson seems to make it out to be a terrible situation; then by the end of the article seems to make it seem like it is perfectly fine as long as you have a bigger long term goal set for yourself. 3) She is arguing that although working a blue-collar job, such as waitressing, isn’t a bad thing, it also shouldn’t be the job you want to keep for the rest of your life. You need to work towards a bigger goal, and just use your blue-collar job as a way to help you get to your bigger plan. 4)If I were to see one of my teachers serving food at a diner or restaurant I would have more respect for them. Not only do they take time out of their daily lives to teach students but they are also working another job to pull in some extra money. They are doing all they can as a parent/spouse to make sure that they have enough to sustain their family and that definitely deserves respect. If my teacher was waiting on me I would defiantly not be disrespectful because of how hard they work, plus they are my teacher so I shouldn’t be rude to them regardless of what else they do.
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1)As the essay progresses, you can see Bronson going from embarrassed to okay with having a survival job. You see a difference in opinion in paragraph 10, where she starts to explain the talents of some of her co-works, and what they able to have. She realizes that these people are intelligent in their own ways, and have accomplished just as much as the white-collar workers.2)The They Say that comes from the essay comes from Bronson’s thoughts and what her colleagues have said. What her colleagues would say, is that food and beverage, retail, and customer service are all “survival jobs”. That they will not give someone economic security that white-collar careers can offer, and that those jobs are for the people that are not intelligent/ drop outs. The way she response to what They Say is by telling them how they are wrong about those people. She goes on to tell us how some of her co-workers are waitresses, so that they will not have as much, or at all, debt after college. That some have homes and a family that they can provide for, and that many have a bachelor’s degree.3)I think that she is arguing that a blue-collar job is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. That you can live comfortably if invest right. I would have to agree to an extent with Bronson. There is nothing to be ashamed in waiting tables if that is what you love to do, for not everything in the world is about money. If you do not mind the hard work that comes with these types of jobs, I say go for it. But I think that the work, over time, will become to much, and that you would have to find a more stable job in the future. 4)If I were to have my teacher as a waitress, I would think it would be a little awkward at first. But just because they have a second job, I wouldn’t think anything less of them. They are just doing what the have to do to support their life style. I would have more respect for them, for they went out and did what they have to do. I would also treat them with the same respect that I do in their classroom, for you still have to see them on almost of a daily basis.
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1)At the beginning of the article, Bronson, was embarrassed about her second job of being a waitress. Throughout the story she spoke less of embarrassment and transitioned to how much she liked to be a waitress. In paragraph nine, she talks about how society has made a “blue-collar job” an inferior and they cannot obtain anything better like an education, which is not always true. In paragraph ten, she argues against society’s opinion. She talks about how all here restaurant co-workers success and her own. 2) The “they say” in this story is Bronson’s student from class and her parents. When Bronson saw her student and her parents, she thought that they were criticizing her as being a waitress. She thought that the parents were questioning “My daughter is being taught by a waitress and we are paying her?” At first she thought the situation was horrible and embarrassing, but by the end she didn’t think it was a big of a deal for her because she has set goals for herself. 3)She is arguing that it is not a horrible thing working as a waitress or any other job that doesn’t require higher education, but people should set goals for themselves to reach higher success rather than staying at a blue-collared job. I agree with Bronson because no one should criticize others for the job they have. 4)If I were to see my teacher work at a restaurant or any other job, I would have twice the respect for them. Teachers take a lot of time and dedication to teach their students the material they need to know, not only that but they spend hours after class helping students who need the extra help or they stay after to grade papers, and so forth. They are only trying to meet “ends meet” even if it is working a second job else where. I would understand her situation because not everyone has it easy, so I would be more respectful at the restaurant and in class.
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1)Bronson, at the beginning of the essay, appears and states that she is embarrassed at the fact that she is having to serve a current student in a restaurant that she works in. As I read further into the essay, in paragraph ten to be exact, I found out that, after considering some facts, Bronson experiences a change in heart. Bronson begins to explain of all the success that has occurred in her co-workers lives. She explains that they are not the least bit of failures as well. 2) The “They say” in this essay refers to what the people may think of her. According to Bronson, there will be a negative form on this topic, because parents and students will question her authority. She responds by thinking about it and putting her thought in writing throughout this essay. In the end, she is proud of herself and all of the people she works with, for she thinks that there is no way anyone should be ashamed of their work. 3) Bronson is arguing about the work ethic of people in their jobs and that, no matter the job, education does not have anything to do with it. I agree with her completely. Sometimes the hardest workers in a society are the ones that are left with nothing. Education should not determine if you are a hard worker or not. Some of the big people in our world today that have master degrees still have to work another job in order to provide for their family. 4)If I was at a restaurant in which my server was a current teacher, I be completely caught off guard. I would be thinking hard for several minutes afterwards about why he or she is working wherever it is that I’m at. I would look at and think of reasons as to why they are working their. Obviously, the reasons would be necessary for, if they weren’t, my teacher wouldn’t be working there. I would definitely develop a greater respect for my teacher, because I can see just how hard they have to work in order to make ends meet. Honestly, I would not only treat him or her with more respect, but also the servers of other restaurants that I attend.
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1.Bronson is obviously torn between what she tells her students and what she knows to be true. However, she makes the shift between being embarrassed about her second job and realizing that she’s just doing what she needs to do somewhere in the middle of her article. When talking about needing a “real teaching job,” Bronson says “this path takes time,” and comes to terms, realizing there’s nothing wrong with what she’s doing.
2.Judging by the way Bronson talks about her struggles and the current education system, there is definitely a large amount of “they say” in her essay. She is responding to the seemingly universal belief that one must have a college degree to make it in the world, which is obviously just not true, especially in Las Vegas.
3.She is arguing that someone can be a hard-working individual and a good person without a college degree. She’s trying to show that it’s okay to forego a degree because you can still be a good person and make a decent wage. I agree with her, because a diploma is not a certificate meant to demonstrate one’s ability to be a good person.
4.If I saw my teacher as a server at a restaurant, I would not judge them whatsoever. I would not feel bad for them because I don’t know their particular situation. Just because they are working a second job doesn’t mean they don’t make enough money as a teacher. Maybe they do but they just want more. It is not my place to think anything of it.
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Bronson is in between a rock and a hard place, forcing her to work two jobs to make ends meet. She feels embarrassed about having the second job as a waitress until she states that it pays nearly three times the amount that the teaching job does.
She believed that “they” being students and their families would judge her differently based by the job she held at the restaurant, but came to realize that no one should be ashamed of the work they do if they enjoy it.
She isn’t telling her students to not be like the people she works with but she is telling them to pursue a higher education to improve their chances of attaining a better job that could pay better.
If I had a teacher serve me at a restaurant, I wouldn’t view them any differently, the job or jobs that someone has doesn’t effect the way I look at them. I would probably have more respect because they are doing more to make ends meet. I couldn’t lose respect for someone that works their but off at two different jobs when others are only working one.
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1) Bronson is embarrassed in the beginning of the story about have a blue-collar job. She tells her students one thing, but don’t want them to know she has a second job. She starts to realize that it’s ok to have that job towards the end.
2) This article is mostly all “they say”. Most college teachers tell you get higher jobs and make more money. In all reality its hard to get a high job right after college. No one should be ashamed by where they work, money is money.
3) Bronson is arguing that even though they have a blue-collar job they are probably one of the kindness and smartest people around. people are quick to think different just because where they work. You don’t have to go to college and have a degree to be smart. There is other ways to learn than just a university.
4) If I saw my teacher as a waitress I would be shocked at first, but I would never judge him or her. Its not my place to judge a person by where they work or who they are. I don’t know there life story. Most people just want to make extra money sometimes.
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At first Bronson is embarrassed that she has the blue collared job of being a server. but, as the essay continues she states that her co-workers at her blue collared job are some of the hardest working people she has ever met, and none of them are failures. In about the eight through the eleventh paragraph she realizes that there should be no shame in being a server.
The “They Say” in Bronson’s essay would be what other people think or say. Such as the parents could be thinking “This server teaches my child”. also her own colleague in her department labeled blue collared jobs as “survival jobs”, that do not give economic security. The “They Say” comes in a negative and judging form. Bronson responds by realizing that she is a hard worker and that she is making the correct choice to work more.
Bronson is arguing that if you do not have a passion to continue to learn or receive a higher education, then there is nothing wrong with being like those people that work blue collared jobs. I agree with her, because you have to do what you want in life and if learning and going to school is not for you there is nothing wrong with working hard and being a good person.
I would be surprised if I saw one of my teachers working as a server. I try to treat everyone with respect. Also I would gain respect for them and understand that they are just trying to make it in this world.
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1)in paragraph 5 she proves a point by saying that in waitressing you get more money in just a a few hours where as in teaching is an all day job that makes less money. 2) the “they say ” is from the students and their parents that visit the restaurant that she works part time at , as she observes their behavior towards her. she feels a negative intake on a teacher being a server as well but then she realizes she has to do what she has to in order to make it in this world so who cares what people think, its not like they have to pay her bills … right ? 3)Bronson is arguing that as long as you have a higher goal than working at a ” survival job the rest of your life then its really not that big of a deal if you have one just to get you by until then. 4) If I saw my teacher as my waitress I would treat her with the same respect that I give everyone else ! I would actually give them props , they already have so much to do with being a teacher and taking on a second job already isn’t easy for anybody let alone a teacher that constantly has something to grade !I would probably give him or her a really good tip
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In Brittany Bronson’s article “Your Waitress, Your Professor,” Bronson seeks to destroy the “artificial, inaccurate division society places between blue collar and ‘intelligent’ work.” Beginning her article with the impression that she may be embarrassed or ashamed with her second job as a server, Bronson explains that “embarrassment is not an adequate term to describe what I felt when those parents looked at me, completely stupefied, thinking ‘this waitress teaches my child?'” The shame that she shares with many other blue collar workers is not uncommon and she explains that “the switch from [her] professional attire to a white shirt, black apron and tie reflected the separation [she] attempted to maintain between her two jobs.” However, throughout her article her attitude changes towards survival jobs and she explains in paragraph 9 that being a blue collar worker does not mean it is inferior work. In addition, she refers to her co-workers as “some of the kindest and hardest working people she knows” and continues to acknowledge that “none of them are failures”. Bronson brings to light the common misconception that if you serve others, you are beneath them and are automatically labeled. When in reality, you should be labeled a hard worker and acknowledged for the time and effort you have put in to succeed in this crazy, unjust world. Although Bronson has a difficult time conveying to her students that in cities like Las Vegas, you will generate more cash working customer service then entry level jobs, she is a prime example that it takes much more than just a college degree to get the career you want. You have to work for it, whether it’s getting a second job to afford more schooling or completing residency, it takes time and dedication. Throughout her article, Bronson demonstrates a substantial amount of “they say”. She represents it in many forms and she responds to it intelligently, assertively and respectfully. If I saw one of my teachers at a restaurant, as my server, I would have the utmost respect for them. I don’t even care if I know why they have a second job, the fact that they are using their free time to work more shows that they are hardworking and I respect those who work for what they have. Reading this article opens your eyes to the reality of life after high school/college and I think that the message she is trying to send is extremely important for those who think they are guaranteed a job after college.
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1-At the beginning of the paragraph, she seems embarrassed to be working as a waitress, when really it was her decision to work as a waitress in the first place. When she is actually just trying to survive and make a living.
2-She is speaking in first person and telling us her experience and also how other people view her, especially knowing she’s a college professor.
3-she is arguing that, if you have a higher education and graduate college, then you shouldn’t worry about what others have to say about you, because what they think wont make a difference n your life anyway.
4-If I went to a restaurant and I saw my teacher was the server, I would first think to myself “Is that my teacher?” Then I would tell myself and my parents that she is just doing this on the side to help her family and stay stable most likely, but I don’t like to assume things I don’t know. I also would’t assume that she is broke and trying to find a way to survive. I would still have full respect for her, and talk to her like I would talk to her in class. Eventually I would have more respect for her, for juggling two jobs together and doing her best to wake up early to come teach her students without showing that she hates what she is doing.
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Bronson emotes shame facing her students as a waiter, but this impression leaves when she says “But not all my restaurant co-workers are college dropouts, and none are failures” (Bronson). She went on to list their achievements without degrees and how their income rivals that of white-collar jobs. This is a dramatic shift in tone because she no longer explains why she feels embarrassment but instead defends her position logically and not at all unprofitable. It is after this transition that her goal of changing her student’s perspectives on blue-collar work becomes abundantly clear. She hopes that she can convince others that laborers can be just as critical of the world around them as white-collars (Bronson).
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1). Brittany Bronson is quite embarrassed with how her students see her as a waitress, because she may feel torn between teaching her class a higher level subject, but then after teaching going to a blue collar workplace. Bronson says that,”[she] [finds] it difficult to tell my students to avoid being like them”. She doesn’t want to let her students see her like this, but towards the end of her article she rethinks telling her students so that they will not look down upon a blue collar job.
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Blue collar, white collar: Brittany Bronson on teaching and waitressing
Your Waitress, Your Professor
By BRITTANY BRONSON
1. Paragraph 9 & 10 is where I see that Brittany Bronson begins to make the shift. Here she talks of a shame herself and many of her blue-collar colleagues share. A belief that society deems their work inferior. Brittany states, “But not all my restaurant co-workers are college dropouts, and none are failures.”
2. The They Say quotes come from Brittany Bronson speaking about difficult guests, drunken tourists, being hit on, of parents who their child/student informs them is being served by his professor, and collegiate, as well as, blue-collar colleagues. At the beginning of the article it appears to be an annoyance to Brittany but by the finish it is apparent to be no bother because she understands the need for the additional job for her own economic reasons.
3. That even though the blue-collar “survival” jobs are service oriented and non-college degree required they can sometimes, especially in Las Vegas, offer a better pay than those who graduate and begin entry-level, office dwelling, degree-requiring jobs.
4. Would feel fine if I discovered my waitress turned out to be my professor and, as with another waitress, show the respect deserving of an individual who works a service position giving appropriate service. I will tip a little more than required probably if the service is worthy because I understand the need for a second job to help get by. To reconcile the dual roles of the teacher/server is easy to, as long as, one remembers that while in the classroom the teacher is the subject matter expert and only a person attempting to make a decent wage in the other service related job.
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When looking at Mrs. Bronson in two completely different scopes and professions one while she is teaching her students a College professor at the University of Nevada and another while she is severing her students and their parents as a server. If I ever encountered one of my professors as both my professor and my waitress I believe that I would have more respect due to my perception of their work ethic and the content of their character due to my belief that it tastes a lot of character to be both seen superior and inferior in regards to your line of work.in the same day by the same or completely different people. I also believe that I would treat the server with more respect knowing that even thought my term paper and all of my assignments had already been graded; he/she still might have to grade and or prepare for their next lecture or grade the next set of papers likewise in the classroom because they might have another tiresome job ahead of them. After much contemplation it led me to ponder what I will do In the future when I see a blue or white collar worker and what he/she is going might do after they leave their place of work ether another job or their future to come.
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If I went to a restaurant with my parents and my server turned out to be one of my teachers I don’t think I would feel much of anything. It is their personal life and their job and it is not my place to make judgments on that. I would definitely have more respect for the teacher; balancing work, teaching, grading papers, and making lesson plans is definitely a feat for one person. I would admire the fact that they is willing to work two jobs to support themselves. Additionally, I would gain respect for them because of how determined they were to overcome whatever was causing them to work two jobs. I would treat the server with the same amount of respect as always, as long as it is justified. I would treat them with the same amount of respect as they treated me. My internal process of reconciling the dual roles of the teacher/server with whom I react would be simple; they are human too and they are doing what they can to stay on their feet. They are still the same person, so it wouldn’t matter much to me.
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At the beginning of the passage Bronson is ashamed of her students seeing her working as a waitress and believes that “embarrassment is not an adequate term to describe what I felt when parents looked at me”. Then in paragraph 9, you can see a change in her opinions and feelings more towards believing that she is proud of working hard and is not embarrassed to be working multiple jobs. Bronson also argues throughout the passage that society has made “blue-collar jobs” and inferior, thinking you can not obtain anything better than just a high school education. When in all reality you are just working towards a higher goal in life. My personal opinions towards teachers working another job like waitressing is that of respect. For them to be able to teach us students thoughout the day then in their free time work in another job field is inspiring. If I went to dinner with my family and seen my teacher as a server, I would not disrespect them , there is a reason on why they are working a second job. Whether it is them trying to make ends meet or just because they enjoy working, it is none of my business but I will respect them for doing that.
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This article is great because it show that its important to have good work ethics that even if you cant finish college there are ways to survive. That one should be prepared for the real world that comes after graduating college that just because you have a degree dose not mean you will find a high paying job right off the bat. That you may find your self working a blue collar job just to survive, that there is no shame in any work that you do.
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I personally do not feel as if it would be awkward and definitely not embarrassing. I myself am in the service industry and have been for 20+ years. I know first hand how much money can be made as well as how much fun it can be. I have also worked with many teachers who work in the industry to supplement their income. For that, I applaud them. I have met a ton of people that have degrees of all kinds that have chose to go back into serving and bartending. Not just for the money either, but also because that is what they love to do. Once you have worked in this industry, and are truly great at it there is nothing more thrilling than being so slammed you don’t know which way is up! Let’s not forget the thrill of counting those tips at the end of your shift. Once you posses this unique quality, it is tough to walk away from.
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1.initially it seems as though Bronson is embarrassed about her waitressing job and having to serve her students. Then she makes it evident that she is not in paragraph seven where she writes “It is a shame I share with many of my blue-collar colleagues, a belief that society deems our work inferior that we have settled on or chosen these paths because we do not have the skills necessary to acquire something better.”
2. Bronson is speaking in first person throughout her essay but incorporates “they say” by telling the reader what both her blue-collar and white-collar colleagues say. i would also consider her statistics about students “they say”.
3. Bronson is not arguing against blue-collar jobs nor is she arguing against the usefulness of a college degree, she is simply saying that in these economic time white-collar jobs aren’t always best and that just because someone works a blue-collar job doesn’t mean they are less intelligent or inferior to someone who works a white-collar job.
4. Honestly if i walked into a restaurant and my waitress turned out to be my college professor I would be surprised, but I wouldn’t respect her/him any less. Times are hard economically and you have to do what you have to do.
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This article is important for students to read. I myself have experienced this awkward interaction between a student and a teacher running into each other at the teachers second job. At first it is kind of surprising because this person is teaching you and also, in my case, working at walmart in the electronics section. I didn’t know what ti think at first. I didn’t feel sorry for him or think any less him. I respected him even more because he was doing the best he can to make ends meet and thats all anyone really wants to do.
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Seeing my teacher working as a restaurant waitress I would not be surprise. But, at the same time while in class looking at the teacher my thoughts will be racing with reasons and why’s. For instance, is the teacher working as a waitress to assist with family needs, or to pay-off student loans. Regardless, of the teacher situation I would still respect the teacher. We all have to accomplish our goals by any means necessary.
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Bronson is arguing that a college-level education is valuable because of the knowledge it brings even if the economy is in shambles and a degree can’t always get you enough money. I believe that if you enjoy learning, then college is worth it. Otherwise, it is pointless. All that matters in this society is money. If you want to spend the time and energy working a ‘survival job’ to get you money and a desk job because you enjoy it, because it makes you happy, then it is worth it. But most people are average, as is the definition of the word, and the average person would not be able to push the boundaries of human knowledge size-ably. If all you learn or work for is only new information to you, it will not matter at all what you did once you are dead. If this type of work left you unhappy or below the poverty line, or if you were working a second job to get above the poverty line and that made you unhappy then the college degree and job you got from it were worthless. Life should be seen in terms of happiness, but unfortunately, money is often closely tied to that.
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When I first saw this article, I automatically knew that the teacher was waitressing for extra money. Teachers do not get paid enough for what they do. It is incredible to think about the difference in salary between a professional basketball player and a teacher. Professional basketball players make a couple million dollars a year while teachers make around sixty thousand a year. Teachers are what holds up our society. Without teachers, we would not be where we are today. Conversely, basketball players are a luxury and are not essential to society. That being said, if I saw my teacher working at a restaurant, I would respect them more. Teachers work hard just being teachers, so I can only imagine how much work it would be to have another job in addition to teaching. I would have great admiration for them and if I ever thought I had a lot of homework one night, I would think of them.
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In Bronson’s essay, she neither promotes nor discourages blue-collar or white-collar jobs. She begins her essay discussing the different perceptions associated with these contrasting jobs. Some say people with “survival” jobs, such as customer service, contain less intelligent and more laziness, while those with jobs requiring Master’s Degrees are intelligent, hard working individuals. This is made apparent to Bronson because of her contrasting jobs of waitressing and teaching. When she works as a waitress, customers belittle her, but as a teacher, students praise her. In her essay, she discussed the double standards of jobs with and without Master’s Degrees. She argues that even those without Master’s Degrees are intelligent and hard working individuals. I agree with Bronson because I believe the lack of a Master’s Degree does not equal unintelligence. Bronson discusses how blue-collar workers make large amounts of money, although they do not have a costly education. This is why these jobs are considered “survival” jobs, because they require no degree and pay good amounts of money. However, many require these jobs immediately and prefer money over status-related jobs. Blue-collar workers also work had and are intelligent, as pointed out by Bronson. This shows how blue-collar workers are not lower than white-collar workers, thus making the bad connotations associated with them untrue. Bronson argues throughout the essay that the bad connotations associated with blue-collar workers are untrue and rude.
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It is inherently human nature to be judgmental. Whether we realize it or not, initial impressions form the very base of information for whatever is being encountered, and this initial base knowledge will stick in our heads long after second or third impressions may tell us otherwise. For example, as a result of the American economy not doing so hot, traditionally high paying jobs such as professors at universities are having to take on what have been deemed menial jobs, such as service industry positions, in order to keep their heads above water. In this case, the initial judgment placed upon these ‘menial’ jobs is conflicting with the similarly outdated idea that teachers are supposed to be “above” that kind of work. However, in my opinion, a job’s importance to society can usually be judged by the salary and benefits of said job. According to Brittany Bronson, a teacher and waitress in Las Vegas, her service position ‘menial’ job has actually paid her 3x more than her ‘important’ teaching position. The views of the importance of a job have not yet caught up with the rapid change in salary and benefits of said jobs. In the US, teachers make almost nothing compared to service industry jobs. The manager of a fast food restaurant easily out earns a teacher on a per-year basis. Therefore, the opinion of jobs needs to catch up to the reality value society has placed upon said jobs, in order for it to be socially acceptable to be a teacher working two jobs. Which most are nowadays. (Side note: I honestly believe that teachers need to be paid much more, seeing as the US education system is turning into garbage as a result of underpaying teachers and schools. My post was written from the standpoint of the initial judgments of job type needing to be overcome in order to help teachers not become austracized for working 2 jobs.)
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In our society, those in more “white-collar” positions often look down upon “blue-collar” jobs. However in reality, many people who work in “white-collar” jobs, especially teachers, also must work in the service industry as their “better” job pays them less than they can make working in a restaurant as a server. The problem with this situation is two-fold. First, society undervalues our educators, forgetting that these extremely smart, dedicated people determine the future of the country. Teachers are committed to teaching a new generation knowledge that they will go on to use to contribute to society and they deserve to be paid well for this essential role. The more they are paid, they better job they will do as teachers, meaning more students receive a better education, which can only benefit our society. This is not to discredit waiters and others in service jobs, they work extremely hard and earn everything they get. This leads me to the second problem: society views service work as undesirable and unintelligent and views those who hold these jobs as lacking the ability to do anything better. As Bronson writes, many of the people working in “blue-collar” jobs are educated, creative, determined people only trying to make extra money to explore their dreams. We should help, appreciate, and respect these people and realize that the type of job you work in does not determine your intelligence.
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In today’s society, not only does your job affect your income but it also affects the way people view you. Jobs such as doctors or professors have a much better status than jobs like mechanics and waitresses. However, a job does not define who someone is. Society automatically defines who you are by what type of job you have. If you’re a doctor they see you as hardworking, educated, and rich where as if you’re a waitress they might see you as lazy, poor, and uneducated.
In Bronson’s essay she explains how her co-workers are “some of the kindest, hardest-working people [she] know[s]…and [she] find[s] it difficult to tell [her] students to avoid being like them.” Bronson says this to explain to her students that there’s nothing wrong with having a job like this. While she believes that a good education and good job is the best opportunity for her students she acknowledges the fact that everyone has different lives and come with different opportunities. Therefore, they should not be judged based on what job they choose in life. People should be able to choose their jobs based on their wants and needs in life. Jobs such as Bronson’s second job may not leave you with a big house and a white picket fence but what it can leave you with is happiness. If jobs like this can fulfill your needs then who is anyone else to tell you what kind of person you are or aren’t.
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In today’s society, the “intelligence” of certain jobs affects how people view the person working said job. Many people see jobs that do not require a rigorous education as low class. However, this ideology is flawed because many people work a “high class” job alongside a “low class” job just to support themselves.
We, as a society should not treat people differently depending on their job and education. We do not know their situation. For all we know, our cashier could have an Information Technology Degree, but struggle with finding a good job for it.
Just because a person works a “blue-collar” job, does not mean that he or she is uneducated or unmotivated. In today’s society, many educated people must work multiple jobs in order to make a living and they should not be treated differently for it.
Higher education should definitely be encouraged, because our society is quickly becoming more advanced. However, this education does not guarantee instant success.
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I would be surprised to see one of my teacher’s being a server, however the level of respect would remain the same, if not raised. Working more than one job deserves respect as long as the job isn’t immoral. I treat all servers with the same level of respect because all servers are people and we know nothing about them. There’s nothing to judge them about. As a society we demean minimum wage jobs and assume all who take them are high school students or people who can’t do anything not that there’s anything wrong with students taking jobs or people who lack skills for other jobs. However, people who work minimum wage jobs all provide services, services that we want. If there were no people working as McDonald workers we wouldn’t be able to get a McFlurry at 1 in the morning. We can’t devalue people working certain jobs that provide the services that we desire and that’s one of our main faults as a society.
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Even though she feels as if students should -but it’s not obligated from them- to receive a higher education, she doesn’t go against the fact that her students should have interactions and get to know people who work at “survival jobs.” She assumes that there will, indeed, be individuals that are students of her professional job who will OR will NOT strive for their degree. She doesn’t bash the ones who don’t though, because in all honesty that’s life, especially in LA (From what I’ve heard).
In fact, some of the individuals that work at these so called “survival jobs” are already prosperous and only does it to pass by time. It doesn’t hurt, it can actually help build.
The “survival jobs” doesn’t necessarily reflect or define who a person is, and as she stated, the people she work with at her second job are the most kindest, hardest-working people she knows. If my teacher were a waitress or waiter, I would in all honesty figure that they didn’t have much of a life or tried to make extra money for their family. Not once would I put them down, for the matter being, if they’re educated enough to teach someone, then they should have enough education to be able to strive for a better life.. especially if they have the possesssion of a masters degree, as she does.
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Bronson is arguing that, even though the people working blue collar jobs are “some of the nicest hardest working people” she knows, she would advise against it. She believes there is nothing wrong with the people working blue collar jobs, but pursuing a higher education, then later working a white collar job, would be more satisfying to a persons character. She also argues that the higher education gives a person more options and does not stick a person in a menial job for the rest of their life, but gives them the mobility to pursue a career of what they love to do, and what will fulfill themselves.
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An occupation should not stand to define someone’s intelligence or work ethic. There is an unfortunate yet common theme of the hardest workers getting paid the least. Teachers, environmentalists, people fighting for moral causes, the list goes on. Often it is with a stroke of luck that someone gains access to a high-paying job, possibly not from any fault of there own. Living in such a money-obsessed environment, people who grow up in the richest families or inherit the most money are often the the same people who continue on into the most wealthy positions simply because of where they came from and the fact that they are provided more opportunities. And wealth and luck do not define intelligence or work ethic. The fact that this professor needed to work two jobs to earn enough money in no way portrays the idea that she is lazy. Her waitress job might be a blue collar occupation, but rather than casting any negative light on her, it instead represents her determination and that she is a hard-working, respectable, and intelligent woman. In no way does an occupation determine your level of worth to a society.
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Ms. Bronson makes an interesting point as she describes the emotions of teaching a student at the university, then serving this same student, and her parents, at a restaurant later that night. Bronson describes feeling embarrassed and I could imagine the situation being a little awkward. At what point does the student explain to her parents that the server is her professor? This too is awkward for the parents, and a little confusing. Why is the professor from the university working here at the restaurant? Bronson describes a conversation with colleagues of the university that their opinion of jobs in the service profession as “survival jobs”. Ms. Bronson did not tell her colleagues that she has one of these jobs. Was she being private about her life outside of the university, or just embarrassed? Ms. Bronson describes that once leaving her teaching job she changes from her teaching clothes into her server uniform. This is not only a physical change but also appears to be a mental separation from the two occupations. Bronson is implying that she needs to leave one, before she begins the second. What she does not tell us is why she is working two jobs. Perhaps the owner of the restaurant is a family member or a family friend and she is helping out. Perhaps this is the job she has held throughout her education years, and has sustained her financially. Perhaps it is because she loves to interact with people, offering her swift service and giving them an agreeable dining experience. Ms. Bronson obviously loves her profession as a teacher. She describes having a Master’s degree and her love of learning. She continues that she is continuing her own education by working towards a Doctorate degree. She describes teaching and pushing her students to strive for the best and highest education they can achieve. Though the graduate degree rate of students is small, Bronson hopes that she is making a difference in their lives. One must assume that after working a long day of teaching, it would be tiring to begin a shift as a server. Restaurant patrons are paying customers and as such expect a modicum of respect, catering to their needs, as well as prompt, friendly service. Ms. Bronson states that she has declined the offer of working for the university full time, which includes health benefits, in order to keep working as a server. She offers that this serving job pays her three times what her full time teaching job could offer. After graduating with a Master’s Degree and now pursuing a Doctorate, one can assume that Bronson has student debt, as well as normal life expenses. The opportunity to still work part time teaching, doing what she loves to do, and be able to share this love with others is her dream. I believe that she is working as a server, a noble, difficult profession, in order to pay her bills. One cannot fault her for being a smart woman, and putting needs before her own personal wants. I believe Ms Bronson’s message to us all is that no matter what job, profession, or career you are working at, do it with pride.
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In Bronson’s article she argue that to be able to survive in todays economy many people accept jobs that are looked down upon. Bronson states “It is a shame I share with many of my blue-collar colleagues, a belief that society deems our work inferior, that we have settled on or chosen these paths because we do not have the skills necessary to acquire something better.” This idea of inferiority that is drilled into the society can be seen in all areas of work. Not only do people judge a person by the job they hold but also by the amount of money one person has. This immediate judgement is becoming a natural thing for the society to do. Bronson wants to be able to break away from this automatic judging and make people accept people for who they are and not judge them on what jobs they hold: “My perhaps naïve hope is that when I tell students I’m not only an academic, but a “survival” jobholder, I’ll make a dent in the artificial, inaccurate division society places between blue-collar work and “intelligent” work. We expect our teachers to teach us, not our servers, although in the current economy, these might be the same people.” She makes it clear to the reader what she believes and I agree with Bronson. The position of certain jobs are looked down upon in society just because they don’t get payed well and I do not believe that is the correct thing to do.
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The stereotypes that govern different jobs need to be torn down, or at the very least, renovated. In the end, there may very well be no difference in character between so-called “white shirts” and “blue shirts.” In other words, as a society, we need to stop defining people just because they are a physician or a waitress. Many times, society makes assumptions far too early. We may not know the reasoning behind one’s occupation, yet we continue to pass judgment. This is evident when examining what children are told by their parents and teachers. They are often told to steer away from “lowly” and “vulgar” jobs, such as food, beverage, retail and customer service. Such careers are deemed dirty, and even shameful. On the other hand, careers that are stereotypically coined as “educated” and “honorable” such as business, law, and medicine are celebrated and held in high esteem. In doing so, we create a society of judgment. So-called blue shirt careers are increasingly frowned upon, or sneered at condescendingly.
Of those affected by such stereotypes, individuals like Bronson often find themselves in uncomfortable situations for illegitimate reasons. Bronson is a perfectly well educated woman with a master’s degree, yet she still has a second job working at a restaurant. This is not because she is uneducated and has no where else to work. It was her own decision, especially in times of economic difficulty. Yet she finds herself embarrassed to be seen working there by her colleagues and students. This is clearly a result of the stereotypes placed on such jobs by society. Bronson is a prime example of the often inaccurate assumptions made by society. Hence, these definitions must be taken away. This line separating these two types of jobs needs to be erased. Awareness must be raised about acceptance. Even educated people with phenomenal character may find themselves working at such jobs, for an assortment of reasons. As Bronson stated, many of her restaurant co-workers are educated, competent, and talented. Many have made the decision to work there for economic reasons, and were better off in doing so. Even more, many were some of great moral character- kind and hard-working. In the end, there is little to no difference between these people and doctors. The only difference is one fabricated by society itself. It is nothing but a disillusion.
In the end, it is unfair to those working in such occupations to be pre-defined by society. They are often underestimated and viewed condescendingly. As a result of this judgmental epidemic, many, like Bronson, who make the choice to work in such fields for personal reasons, find themselves in awkward positions that really do not need to exist. And the stereotype only grows. In the end, newer generations need to be taught not to view these occupations as lowly and below them, but to accept them. In many cases, like Bronson’s they may be beneficial economically and time-wise. They may be more efficient than any other jobs. They need to be respected, and even admired for their contributions to society.
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In “Your Waitress, Your Professor”, Brittany Bronson brings up a good topic about the divide between “blue collar” jobs and “intelligent” jobs. At first she starts off by stating her position in the work field. As well as sounding embarrassed to work two different jobs. She also seems embarrassed for her student to see her serving in a restaurant and not teaching in a class room. Though it can be embarrassing, I don’t see it as degrading, I think by having two jobs, especially being very opposite, she is just trying to make a living. Its never a bad thing to work a normal job that doesn’t require a degree. Personally, I’d probably be embraced at first, but I would have to become comfortable with it because theres nothing to be embarrassed about. Also having two jobs like this, give her more experience and a higher income.
As a college professor i can see wear she might’ve been embarrassed, but i don’t think students would disrespect her, but they would be understanding that she is trying to make a living. Especially living in a rough economy. As a college professor she would have to seal with people seeing her but overtime, she didn’t care.
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This article provides useful information and students should definitely read it. I have experience working in a restaurant as well so I can relate very well to this article. In my situation as the student working, I have seen classmates and professors coming in and out of where I work. It is interesting to think that the person that is teaching new information to you is also working at a local restaurant. In any scenario that I found myself serving for teachers or classmates it never felt embarrassing because I know that working is something I need to do. So, the author shouldn’t feel embarrassed whenever she is serving on her students.
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I liked this article because it showed the other side to working a seemingly “sturdy” job. That although it can appear you are doing well financially working a job that is professional, you can very well still be struggling and need another job to support you. I also like the comment in the article about how Bronson has made over 3 times more in the service industry job than she has made as a professor. Although I have never seen one of my teachers working another job, I have seen them outside of school and it is weird to think that they also have a life outside of school. So if I was to see a professor working another job outside of campus, it would feel weird but actually be very understandable.
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Your Waitress, Your Professor written by Brittany Bronson was the essay that stood out most to me among the others. I love that I could relate to her viewpoint as I read, because I am also a waitress. She is a hardworking woman who employs two jobs, one white collar and one blue. I respect the essay because she is seeing the division of the two job classes from each end of the spectrum. Bronson describes that in her classroom she lectures for students to strive towards degrees and aim higher, opposed to her night shift where she waits tables at a chain restaurant. I was able to connect some of the points in her essay to Mike Rose’s Blue Collar Brilliance, in which both authors suggest that each job class results in intelligence, the only thing dividing the two is society’s misjudgment. Bronson’s essay should help people view blue collar jobs in a different way, and realize that degrees aren’t the only key to a career.
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There are numerous people working hard in positions that they never imagined working in. Brittany Bronson wrote “Your Waitress, Your Professor” and this makes me wonder about what degree to obtain. She seems confident and happy with her career choices, which is exactly what I want. Talking to other professionals I learned that the majority did not start in their desired field. They used what opportunities arose and always talked about what they really wanted. Eventually finding their way into a career they felt was fulfilling.
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In the article, Bronson changes her view on “survival jobs” when she starts to say “It is a shame I share with many of my blue-collar colleagues, a belief that society deems our work inferior, that we have settled on or chose these paths because we do not have the skills necessary to acquire something better.” Bronson also goes on to tell how not all of her coworkers that work at the restaurant are drop outs, or failures, a lot of them have bachelor’s degrees or some other license. Some of the people she works with are parents buying their first home, raising children and making investments in their children and their homes. Bronson doesn’t understand how she can tell her students every day to go and put themselves in debt to not turn out to be people who work those “survival jobs”.
Bronson isn’t telling her students not to continue their education, she is just arguing that people working “survival jobs” are just like everyone else. Everyone has their own goals in life and sometimes education isn’t their goal. She thinks even though she is massively in debt because she did go to school, she is still working that “survival job” to get through.
If I went out to a restaurant and my professor was my waitress, there would be a whole new respect level I believe. I believe that I would have more respect for my teacher because they are teaching and work another job just to get through-we’ve all been there. Naturally, I treat servers with the same respect anyways as long as they are respecting me and my group but I think I would probably tip my server/professor more because they are clearly not making what they should be making as a professor and I would respect that they were out there trying to do the best they could.
I think that teachers/professors/ anyone with a higher degree should not have to be working a second job just to be above poverty level. I honestly don’t think that I would be able to doing a dual job-both of which are very time consuming. I don’t think I would be able to tell my students now to be someone, someone that I am outside of those school doors. I highly respect people do whatever they have to do in order to accomplish their goals in life.
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She makes a valid point on her article. I agree with her statement.
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I totally agree. No form of honest work is demeaning. A society need
all types of work and people who do a good job at what the do should be respected.
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10 out of 10
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Students can relate to this article because this is something we each struggle when finding what path to take right after high school.
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