The Blue Collar Woman

Going to Work in Trump's America

I have a friend who works in a place that is the epitome of the “Good Ol’ Boys Club.” I worked there once; was it yesterday or a lifetime ago? My friend, let’s call her Chica Sullivan, is an aware, intelligent, hard-working fireball. She works in a male dominated, prejudicial, blue collar environment with the most diverse group of people I have ever seen in one workplace. Although men and women, young and old, gay and straight people from all over the globe work and coexist together, the management and, more importantly, the breakrooms are dominated by white, hetero, Christian, male ideals and attitudes. That is not to say that all members of that group are as intolerable as this group, but the ones who were prone to ignorant and misogynistic behavior have been given license to exacerbate their cowardly and testosterone influenced behavior.

Chica has worked in this environment for many years. So did I. She has my most heartfelt empathy as she is not the type of person who can “get over it” when she hears her coworkers advocating bigotry and chauvinism. Why, you ask? Because she is a logical human being who cares about her fellow man. Oh she’s no saint, who among us is? I would never, ever recommend pissing off this woman. Like me, she becomes irate when a group of white guys, (and yes, they are most vocal when in a group, as are all little boys) excuses and even applauds the racist rants of our new POTUS. I know exactly who these boys are. One used to look forward to December 7 as he saw it as “Hate a Jap” day. Another, probably who thinks that the protests are about losing an election, is likely the most vocal supporter of the “You lost, get over it” movement. Oh yeah, he’s the one who still waves the Confederate flag. Another, who enjoys texting dirty jokes to the women, has blamed President Obama for everything that has happened on earth in the past eight years. It’s raining? “Thanks, Obama.” He is also the kind of guy that has to constantly reiterate how much he respects women and tells you how many black friends he has in order to dissuade us of the more clever sect from believing he is a racist. Ps, you haven’t fooled anyone.

Chica works with and endures the ceaseless whining of these little boys but she also works with men and women. One man, perhaps the most respected in the place and also an immigrant, was wise enough to prefer that his crew was made up entirely of women. He told me women worked harder and smarter. It has been my experience in that particular place of work that he is correct.

Then we have the plain old bullies. The ones who, when among their similarly immature and ignorant peers, make fun of one’s religious beliefs, personal appearance, and believe it or not, their intellect. Yes, these boys (and some little girls) love to use the word “retard.” If someone doesn’t believe in the same manner as they do, he is a retard. If something is not popular or stylish, it is gay. Yes, these are supposed adults who say these things. And Chica, who has the intellect and courage to speak openly and honestly, fights them in groups. When I worked there, I used to tell myself, often one hundred times or more each day, that “Arguing with a fool only proves that there are two.” (Mark Twain) It is hard. The mental agony a sane, intelligent, non-prejudiced adult faces in that place is far more demanding than any physical requirement needed. And Chica can do the physical. While these boys complain about their work load (not all of them), Chica performed a very physically demanding job while carrying a healthy baby. And I mean her own child, not like when she figuratively carries the baby boys with whom she works.

Now, there are many, many good men, real men who work with Chica. They come from all backgrounds and various levels of education and somehow are all able to comprehend that people are people. Some of the biggest and strongest boys are the laziest, whiniest, most unintelligent, insecure little babies I have ever known. They love to gossip and hold the belief that the rules do not apply to them. And since the election of their new Grand Wizard, their sense of entitlement, which was present since birth, has shot through the roof.

Chica, I can’t begin to tell you the level of respect I have for you in standing strong and being brave. I want you to know a few things: 1) You are not alone in your frustration; 2) These are culturally biased boys with whom you are dealing; 3) Somewhere in their emotional and intellectual development they were stunted and therefore remain extremely insecure and are afraid of change; 4) Insecure people (and Fascists) constantly seek out the inferior other so as to distract themselves and others from their shortcomings. Most importantly please remember this; gorillas in the zoo go insane because they are too intelligent for their environment. Keep up the fight, I got your back. Peace.