Okay, so I briefly mentioned this trope in my previous blog. Seeing as it can easily fit in non-fiction and real life as much as it can for fiction, perhaps this is as good a time as any to add a new feature? For this, I have no set name but effectively it's simple: what happens when a trope appears in Real Life?
First things for Bad Job, Worse Uniform: chances are when you hear the trope, you think of a job along the lines of fast food restaurants or theme parks. The former can qualify under the cultural term McJob, which are generally considered dead-ends (and humiliating). These kinds of jobs, low-paying and with few opportunities for advancement, may emphasize workplace training over a university degree because chances are if you have a degree, you're overqualified for most positions in the workplace. These jobs aren't what most people become passionate about, save perhaps for the managers, and many may simply view them as 'day jobs,' hoping desperately they find the job they aspire to hold.
What kinds of behaviors might you see in such a job that invokes this trope? Well, depression is a formidable facet, given these jobs can (and generally do) emphasize menial labor. This can lead to chronic depression and weakened motivation to leave the job in favor of applying for a position that utilizes one's talents effectively and in an environment that generates positive attitudes. Also, the uniform can be one source of workplace violence, mostly if coupled with other factors; chances are it won't instill violence by itself. This is particularly problematic for jobs that thrust employees into regular contact with the public, such as the front counter of a fast food restaurant or being a mascot for a theme park.
Thirdly, dead-end jobs may also cause self-defeating rationalizations. There is a possibility the person involved doesn't know and doesn't care to know or is afraid to check anything about the job from opportunities to advancement to whether their degree in college actually gives them an advantage in career opportunities. They can subconsciously believe that it's safest to achieve 'job security' above all else, enough that they're willing to stay in a situation that can be harming them. This includes such issues as hypertension wherein enough stress to one's system increases the risk of cardiovascular and other problems, such as atherosclerosis.
All this does raise an important question: what qualifies as a bad uniform? We can answer this humorously of course though humor does raise an ultimate point: answers will on some level be subjective. There can be various reasons that drive a person to hate a uniform, from sexism to inaccuracies (among other reasons) to being enveloped completely while walking around in 100+ degree (Farhenheit) heat. There are numerous answers to that question and it depends on one's tolerance levels (along with cultural expectations) in the name of securing a job.
Beyond that, there are numerous other reasons that can influence how one feels about the job and the uniform. Some people don't know what they are capable of or what they truly enjoy doing. Others don't know what majors offer and guarantee, though it isn't hard to see why when even some of the most enticing ones might be a poor fit. Other times fear grips them so well that they mistakenly believe they won't have a chance elsewhere, enough that they're willing to tolerate a hostile work environment.
It's little wonder, then, why Bad Job, Worse Uniform exists as a trope. Obviously experiences can vary depending on the job itself but it has developed a reputation with specific employment, such as the Burger Fool. It's why there's a lingering perception that these jobs are jobs for teenagers or nerds (or both) and it is coupled with the perception that it is a dead-end job. Fiction commonly depicts such characters as Napoleon Dynamite or Jay and Silent Bob in such jobs (even if these specific examples don't exhibit that trope themselves), further cementing the misconception that only the socially-awkward apply.
No comments:
Post a Comment