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Service Sector Stereotypes
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Waiting tables at Eating Establishments isn't the most glamorous job in the world, but to many, it's how they make a living. Unfortunately, it seems as though many writers and actors have been on the receiving end of bad service one time too often, and as a result, the portrayal of waiters, waitresses and other members of the service and catering sectors generally isn't flattering. Being a waiter or a waitress is about as far a fall from grace as it's possible to get in TV-land. If a hero or heroine finds themselves in this job, it's a signal that they've hit rock bottom. Alternatively, if they start out in such a situation, they're the resident Cinderella and will soon rise above their humble beginnings. Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })The reason for this is probably that these jobs are as close to "servant" class as is believable in the modern world; waiters and waitresses aren't supposed to answer back, "service with a smile" is all but mandatory, and the wages aren't particularly good, so they're forced to bow and scrape for tips. An angry or rude member of waiting staff is jarring, because they're not "allowed" to talk to the customers like that. Interestingly, people who deal with alcohol rather than food get given a higher status, with bartenders and pub landlords given more power, personality and frequently wisdom, than their table-waiting equivalents. The portrayal of the service sector is highly gendered, and is rather unforgiving towards women. Waiters are often shown as if their job is something that they chose to do, and they're usually pretty good at it. With waitresses, they're usually in a dead-end job, lacking the skills to do anything more "prestigious," while being almost totally useless at waiting tables at the same time. This may be due to the greater percentage of male food servers in 'classier' venues — consider what mental images arise when you think of the word 'waiter', vs the word 'waitress'. This is arguably inverted at the very bottom of the scale — although the percentages are more even in fast food (since they'll take anyone they can pay the least, gender-irrespective), Burger Fools tend to be male. Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })Waiting staff are seldom members of the main cast. Most are walking plot devices, employed to highlight an aspect of a more important character's personality. If the waiter is rude and the heroine doesn't fight back, we know the heroine has trouble asserting herself. If a waitress trips up and is rescued by the hero, we know he's a nice guy. If someone leaves a big tip, we know they're generous (if not necessarily a good guy); if not, we know they're mean. Still worse than not the non-tippers is anyone who is rude to the waiters. The restaurant and those who work in it are only there to show off the important people, the staff aren't important in themselves. |
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