Being "blue collar

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TurboStock

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Am I the only blue collar Catholic? It seems like aver Catholic I know is white collar and kinda looks down on blue collar people. I mean is it bad that I would rather spend a Saturday rebuilding engine to put into a Camaro or go hunting or fishing then to spend the day in a art museum?

I am in college taking automotive collision repair. And almost any Catholic girl I meet when I tell them that I am in automotive they are no longer interested in me. I mean is it wrong that I would rather work on cars in a shop then to sit in a office behind a computer all day?

Is it wrong that I am a blue collar guy?

And I want to add one thing. I know that automotive repair may not make you rich. But I will say that you can make a dang good living. And right now with the economy bad and everyone being laid off. All the mechanics I know are doing just fine. Most of them are open 6 days a week because they have so many customers.
 
***No, there is nothing wrong with it at all!

I think that our society has built up white collar work as the end all, be all to making a living. My husband worked as a manager for an aircraft modification facility when we first married…and he did that for some time. He managed blue collar workers, and at times, had to jump in and get his hands dirty too! I was a SAHM at that time and he made a suitable and honest living doing that for a while, until he was laid off. Since then, he got into the corporate world, and is now ‘white collar.’ But, as long as a man does an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay…is supplying the needs of his family…takes his responsibilities seriously…who can fault him for the type of work he does?

I am sorry some girls are snobs…but such is life…you’ll meet a lot of snobs in this world…but, know that there is nothing wrong with being a blue collar worker. I actually hate labels!

Good luck for the future, in whatever line of work you choose. 👋***
 
***Oh I meant when you actually start working in it for a living, fulltime…you mention you’re studying that in school. I read it right! :p:D

I think sometimes what happens when girls meet blue collar guys, they automatically think…what will mom and dad think? Many parents have these visions of their girls marrying doctors, lawyers, etc… You won’t be able to please everyone. But, again, as long as you are doing something honest, and you work hard at it…you will be successful. Plus, to do something you LOVE to do…and be good at it? You’re ahead of the game! 👍***
 
I don’t think this has anything at all to do with one’s profession of faith, and everything to do with misapprehensions based on social status and cultural background. You probably need to widen your circle of Catholic aquaintances if you don’t know many “blue collar” people, however you define that term. Historically up to the end of the last century Catholics in America at least were often identified with the working class, and that identification with labor for instance is one reason there remain strong ties to the democratic party amond Catholics in certain areas.
 
TurboStock said:
And I want to add one thing. I know that automotive repair may not make you rich. But I will say that you can make a dang good living. And right now with the economy bad and everyone being laid off. All the mechanics I know are doing just fine. Most of them are open 6 days a week because they have so many customers.
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That’s for sure. I process pensions, and I know that many automotive retirees make more retired than I ever will working, even if I am white collar.

There’s nothing wrong with you at all. I think in this case it’s a “different strokes for different folks” situation. It’s not to say that you might never want to check out different areas of interest (I have learned things from people I’ve dated that I never would have exposed myself to otherwise), but hey… you are who you are.

I can see where it might be harder to find a woman who shares your interests, but while I don’t know any women who are into automotive work (though I know they exist), I have known very outdoorsy women. Just keep your eyes and your mind open, and hopefully they will too.
 
Really, don’t let it bother you. Remember that a lot of guys with Master’s degrees are out of work, whereas a good mechanic will always have a job–and a good job, too.

Keep in mind, too, that if a girl is only interested in social status, she’ll make somebody a miserable wife, because she’ll always be focused on the next rung on the social ladder, and that’s a climb to nowhere.

One day, you’ll meet a nice girl who’ll appreciate you. It may not happen tomorrow, but trust me, it’s worth the wait.
 
We’re blue collar and we’re Catholic. There’s plenty of blue collar Catholics. Go to Mass in a predominately “blue collar” neighborhood and I’m sure you’ll find plenty of them. I come from a white collar family of origin and I certainly never looked down on blue collar people. Obviously since I married one.😃
 
srlucado said:
Keep in mind, too, that if a girl is only interested in social status, she’ll make somebody a miserable wife, because she’ll always be focused on the next rung on the social ladder, and that’s a climb to nowhere.
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To be fair to the young women, it’s possible they feel they WOULD like to spend Sunday afternoon at the art museum and would want their boyfriend/husband to come with, and have gotten the vibe that the OP would, like he said, rather not. It’s possible they’re not *all *money-grubbing or status-seeking! 😉

Not that they’re not out there, of course.

I have a degree and have done some graduate work but I come from a blue-collar family and have dated men who work with their hands. I am *totally *hopeless, dexterity-wise, so I am in awe of those who aren’t. You just need to find someone whom you like who likes you for who you are, not what you do, and then you can work out the fishing vs. art museum thing. Maybe she’ll learn to love to camp (as I have) and you might find some art you like (as an example). Or maybe you will find a total outdoorswoman and no compromise on this will be needed!

I second the idea of going to a parish in a blue-collar neighborhood, as well.
 
I live in an area that’s made up primarily of elderly folks and blue collar workers. My parish is blue-collar. There are no pretentions to be anything else, and let me tell you, it’s a relief after having been in affluent parishes for years. People are real. TurboStock, there are plenty of girls and friends out there who aren’t trying to be someone they’re not. Maybe you’re looking in the wrong place. My best guy friend is a vintage car freak. He went to a technical high school and never went to college. He’d rather be piddling with his old beat-up cars than anything else. We have different interests, but we’re still close, and he has no lack of female friends! We met in our humble, not affluent, blue-jeaned church. If you’re not in a church like that, find one. My friend will tell you, it’s a good place to meet real-world women.
 
We need faithful Catholics in all professions. How else are we to witness?

My son is blue collar (I guess!); he’s in the Navy and works on fighter planes. Where would we be without him and is coworkers?

Where would we be without you and your coworkers?
 
I do think skilled workers have gotten the short end of the stick respect-wise in our society for a while. But we need skilled workers, and I think that this recession might just change our elitist thinking a bit.

I’m a nurse, which is considered professional. But it’s a skill all the same, and I am thankful I have it. I will not be out of a job. People will always be sick and will always need nurses to care for them.

People will always need a car, and those who fix cars will not likely be out of a job anytime too soon, either. My husband and I would both be considered “white collar”, but I am very much going to encourage my kids to learn skills (nurse, electrician, plumber, mechanic, etc) because having a skill and a job is an important part of being a Catholic parent. Being able to support your family financially is important—and anything that gives you that, no matter what color the collar, is something to be proud of.

What matters to me as a Catholic parent is not the color of the collar, but the character of the person wearing it. You can have low-class doctors and high-class plumbers. Classiness has nothing to do with your profession, and everything to do with your character.

God bless you in your search for a Catholic woman who can appreciate your skill set. I know there have to be some out there! I would’ve married my husband no matter what the color of his collar 🙂
 
francesca_gen said:
To be fair to the young women, it’s possible they feel they WOULD like to spend Sunday afternoon at the art museum and would want their boyfriend/husband to come with, and have gotten the vibe that the OP would, like he said, rather not. It’s possible they’re not *all *money-grubbing or status-seeking! 😉
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Of course; didn’t mean to imply it was either-or.
 
francesca_gen said:
Didn’t mean to jump on ya; I was just thinking about it. 🙂
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No worries; you make a valid point, and I should have been clearer.

(And if anyone ever figures out the exact formula for attraction between men and women–blue-collar, white-collar, rich, poor, whatever–he’ll be so rich he can hire Bill Gates to mop his floors.)
 
I have five daughters, and I would not care for a moment if one wanted to marry a “blue-collar” Catholic. I dearly want them to marry Catholics!

Except the oldest. 😉 She’s discerning a vocation to the religious life! 👍
 
Catholics come in all walks of life and all types of people. My DH is a police officer. There are lots of catholics in police work or fire departments.

Plenty of blue collar guys and gals like to do things like go to museums and the opera etc.
 
TurboStock said:
Am I the only blue collar Catholic?
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Dood, you should ask that question of the first dirt poor Irish, Polish and other immigrants that brought Catholicism over to Uncle Sam’s land. 😛
It seems like aver Catholic I know is white collar and kinda looks down on blue collar people.
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Well, some people have to work on humility apart from piety. Don’t we all in some way?
I mean is it bad that I would rather spend a Saturday rebuilding engine to put into a Camaro or go hunting or fishing then to spend the day in a art museum?
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Not at all. Putting a computer together or doing some other stuff inside the box gives me far more satisfaction than anything I’ve ever written.
I am in college taking automotive collision repair. And almost any Catholic girl I meet when I tell them that I am in automotive they are no longer interested in me. I mean is it wrong that I would rather work on cars in a shop then to sit in a office behind a computer all day?
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Of course not, but perhaps look for a girl that doesn’t want to sit in an office behind a computer all day, but, say, works an outdoor job? Hah, you could probably even find a girl that talks to engines. Those happen too.
Is it wrong that I am a blue collar guy?
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Of course not, but as I said above, instead of trying to change people, try to find a girl who actually likes you as you are instead of needing to be convinced!
And I want to add one thing. I know that automotive repair may not make you rich. But I will say that you can make a dang good living. And right now with the economy bad and everyone being laid off. All the mechanics I know are doing just fine. Most of them are open 6 days a week because they have so many customers.
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Tell me more. I’m a friggen lawyer that can’t find work in a European capital city after graduating with an A and being halfway through Ph.D. :rolleyes: I’m teaching English. And writing academic stuff because it’s better to do it now than to have to do it when they’re actually hiring and paying.

BTW, unqualified physical labour tends to pay better than being a young lawyer round here. MacDonalds probably pays better than most law firms, too. My 19 year old brother will get 40% more after his first month as a security guard than I did in my first paid month as a lawyer (and I had worked 2 months for free before then. And he has no training of any kind in that area. I know a lawyer who doubled (or so) her salary the time she was substituting for a receptionist who went on medical leave. My former workmate, who earned more than I did (like 50% more) is now working for free just to have something to say when they ask him during an interview when better times come. And I know people with MA in philosophy who work as assistants (e.g. to such completely entry level young lawyers as I was a while ago)… heck, at that law firm, my secretary had a degree in management. So quit complaining. 😛
 
There’s nothing at all wrong with it. I grew up and still live in a blue collar, heavily Catholic neighborhood.
 
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