Isn't it kind of funny..in a weird sort of way...how people tend to "picture" the following: truck drivers, preachers, teachers, nurses...to name a few. When I asked some random people how do they 'picture' these people, here's some of the answers I got:
TRUCK DRIVER: an over weight man wearing a stained/dirty t-shirt that doesn't quite fit over his big belly; dirty blue dickies pants that show part of a 'plumber's crack' when he bends over; a big ole stoggie sticking out of his mouth; and a dirty baseball cap on his head.
PREACHERS: Men, usually on the tall, thin side, wearing a a dark suit & tie with a crisp, white shirt; holding a bible in one hand when preaching a 'hell & brimstone' sermon', banging his fist on the podium to emphasize parts of his sermon.
TEACHERS: An older lady with grayish hair wearing a dress, kinda on the old fashioned side; speaking in a quiet, soft tone to the children; having a bright, shiney apple on the desk; standing before a black chalkboard
NURSES: a woman wearing a crisp white uniform with white stockings and white shoes; having cold hands (I particularely liked that one)
My point to all this is this: even though we're SUPPOSED to be in the 'modern' world nowadays, some people still have the misconception of judging people like, truck drivers, in the old sterotype. Geez....you should've seen all the strange looks and hear all the comments I used to get when I first started driving truck. I'm very short and a female, so I had a double whammy right from the start....when people asked me what I did for a living & I told them I drove truck, they thought I was pulling their leg. "Short females can't drive a big truck" was one of the most common statements I'd hear. It used to irk me so much that at times, I'd tell my hubby that "...if one more person tells me that, I'm gonna pop them one..." OK, let's face it..first off I'd never pop anyone...secondly even if I did, just how much damage could I do when I barely come up to most people's knees??
I think that by smileing politely & turning the tables on the person by asking them just what do you think a truck driver, nurse, teacher, etc is supposed to look like is a GREAT response. Those of you who have been doing that already are to be commended. Maybe if enough of us to that when we're faced in that kind of situation it might help to change some of the misconceptions.
