Thursday, February 19th, 2009...10:29 am
Queen Of The Supermarket
Recently, my boss decided to brag that he is “too smart for his job” and reveal his IQ. Hilariously (but somewhat depressingly), it is lower than mine. I didn’t share that fact with him because a) he’s an idiot and b) thinking I am not as intelligent as he is will lull him into a false sense of security until I make my move, ninja-like. What is my move, you ask? Okay, I don’t have one, just yet. I mean, it’s not like I want *his* job, or anything. He seems miserable.
However, this started me thinking about common misconceptions that people hold regarding those who work in retail. You might not be surprised to learn that I work with quite a few ex(and not so ex)-addicts and high school dropouts. However, you may very well be surprised to learn that we have quite a few college graduates floating around our crew, including two master’s degrees (neither of which belong to a manager), and one gen-u-wine millionaire. That’s right, Jethro. Swimming pools, movie stars.
My point is this, it’s important that we not treat the person cutting meat, polishing apples (what? that’s a job!), or bagging groceries, as less-than. Everyone has a backstory. Retail is my higher-educated self’s career of choice. I could do many things, but I have a short attention span and need a job that is challenging and varied. Plus, I am really good at it. It’s hard work, and there are plenty of days when I wish that I could sit at a desk and keep to myself for my eight hours, instead of standing and being forced to act pleasing the entire time. There are plenty of days that said boss probably wishes I HAD gone that route. Still, most days, I love that I get to help people, learn new things, meet a ton of folks, and get in some Grade A people-watching, and get paid for it. When Bruce Springsteen sings about the Queen of the Supermarket, I am fully convinced he is singing about me. Besides, isn’t a cubicle just a prison for fat ladies in polyester?
17 Comments
February 19th, 2009 at 10:41 am
People who treat anybody as “less than” are assholes. That this treatment gets institutionalized in retail is more an artifact of a society that is perpetuating a softened serf-master dynamic in the boss-worker relationship.
What we really need is less specialization and more freedom in what we do with our time for money. I’d love to be part time lawn care, part time web developer. I’m sure many in my line of work feel similarly – we’d love to engage a different part of ourselves. And I’m sure you’d love to do a different kind of work than you find yourself doing.
Until workers assert themselves as co-equal partners in the economy, instead of grateful beneficiaries of business management (i.e. capitalists) we will put ourselves into square boxes and pretend all this is normal. And weak-minded types will believe it’s normal and treat people accordingly – but there’s no cure for assholes.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:42 am
“And I’m sure you’d love to do a different kind of work than you find yourself doing.”
What I meant was “And I’m sure there are other things you’d like to do in addition to what you’re doing at the supermarket.”
February 19th, 2009 at 10:57 am
If you can do retail with the low pay and still be happy, good for you. But I’m not sure $7/hr. will support anyone very well long term. I mean, why else would so many of the cashiers at 7-Eleven seem so pissed off all the time? At max they make $8/hr. — and that’s after months if not years of service — to deal with annoying people all day.
February 19th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Is it bad that I think apple polishing sounds like a really zen job? Like, if people left you alone you could get some really good thinkin’ done while making sure all of the Cameos (my favorite) were shiny and stacked properly.
Twitter: Nicholkola
February 19th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Sadly, you are correct. Cubies (as they are sometimes called) are a prison for fat ladies in polyester. Also, be warned: Cubies are not only a prison for the poly wearing fatties, but the genesis of said ladies.
February 19th, 2009 at 11:48 am
1) How do you know your IQ? I’ve gotten snared into those conversations at work before, I’ve never been tested but I give a sub Gump score of 62 and giggle into my tea when they look at me with genuine concern.
2)What does your boss think his is? Did he apply for MENSA or take the facebook IQ test?
3) Cubes are not just a jail for fat ladies in polyester but every type of 401 contributing somewhat urban sucker. I’m stuck in one when I don’t travel, but either way, this gig ends in June. I’m going back to the factory.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
What is your boss’s IQ? (Please do tell so that I would know not to embarrass myself telling others my IQ if it is lower)
And when do we get to see the shopping list?
February 19th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
are you insane? you are the most beautiful girl I know. when I met you, I had to force myself not to go gay, immediately.
that is, if we knew each other. which we obviously don’t.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Oh, yes, indeed: apple-polishing is part of everyone’s job description at some point — whether they know it or not.
Love your blog –
rebeccabuendia
February 19th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
which is why I write. thanks for your thoughtful (and thought-provoking) comments.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Damn well said!
February 19th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
When I worked as a frozen food specialist — how I liked to professionally title the lowly “dairy clerk” tag the company provided — there was nothing I loved more than the Zen bliss of rotating yogurt on the shelves, pulling out-of-date containers, and making sure the labels all faced forward. On lucky nights, I’d finish without anyone touching them. I’d stand back and smile.
That’s when I stopped smiling, by the way, TCG. When one too many old women f-ed with my yogurt bliss.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Enjoying your blog–hope you don’t mind that I linked to you today in a post where I was lamenting my desk job all day.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:09 am
there is also zen in watering and trimming leaves off of plants. it’s my favorite thing about the current position, though I do look forward to being just TCG, again.
my smile disappears when someone stands there and squeezes all of the roses. 1) that is barbaric, so keep your meaty paws off of my flowers and 2) it’s a myth that you can judge freshness by doing it, as different varieties of roses have different densities; so keep your meaty paws off of my roses.
dairy clerk works alone a lot. I like that.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:33 am
You don’t moonlight as the Progressive Insurance gal, do you?
February 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
not the first time someone has made that comparison, believe it or not.
March 18th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Digital is my passion. Great article, really interesting stuff. For everyone who is interested how mind works, first I recomend you take this IQ Test here http://cpa.ly/5VD … so you know at what level you are.
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