‘No LOVE for the handcart man’
As professionals in their fields, some career women scoff at the very idea of being involved with someone in a job at the lower end of the salary and prestige scale than theirs. Others, however, have no qualms about bedding a man beneath their station, as it were.
Thirty-nine-year-old chartered accountant Belinda Walters falls in the latter group. She recalls meeting and falling in love with a security guard who was posted at her workplace nine years ago.
“I am a Christian, so I just said ‘God, send someone in my life that I had to watch and pray for’ because you know security guards, you have to pray for them. So I didn’t look at it as anything,” Walters said. “I wasn’t really fussy about him being a security guard and I was a chartered accountant who was working more money than he was.”
Walter’s said her mother was not in agreement with the union initially, but allowed her to make her own decision.
“I am this type of person: I don’t look down on someone because of the job that they are in. I look at the person’s personality and how they treat you. So, he could even be a garbage collector, but is the nicest person in the world compared to a rich man or a lawyer or doctor or whatever, (who) treat you like dirt. So I wasn’t looking at it on that level. I just look at it and said ‘God, if it’s your will, let it be done’.”
Walters said they had no problems at the time and decided to get married. The union soon produced a son.
Fast-forward eight years and Walters is in the middle of a divorce, but it has nothing to do with his profession, she maintains.
“He just started to get involved with other women and so his behaviour towards his family changed,” she explained. “He became abusive. But it had nothing to do with the type of work that he did. Even though I was in a better job, he would pay the bills and go to supermarket and do what he was supposed to do. We worked together as a team,” Walters said.
But not all women are like Belinda.
Norma T, teacher
I got out of my car in downtown Kingston some weeks ago and immediately this handcart man stopped and started telling me how much he checked for me and if I give him a chance I would not regret it. He was selling phone cases from a handcart and I was professionally dressed. I was like ‘really now?’ There will be no loving for a handcart man from this woman!
Anmarie H, media practitioner
There is this groundsman at my workplace. Everytime I pass him cutting or watering the premises he is telling me how much he would love to take me home and put me up as trophy, and what and what he would like to do to me. Or he would tell me how I look good and ask if I can’t give him a chance. Each time I see this man it makes my spirit cross! I doubt if he makes the minimum wage per week and he is trying to woo me! People should know their limit. Why does he think I am in his league?
Nordia W, project manager
There is a windscreen wiper in Half-Way-Tree. One evening I pulled up in my Honda Civic (2011) and he asked to wipe my glass. But then he proceeded to ask me for my number, and started telling me that if I became his woman he would take good care of me. And that I shouldn’t watch the fact that he was wiping glass because although he was short of money he was not short of good love. I didn’t even respond!
Michelle S, interior designer
I went to the supermarket one day and I was well-dressed because I just met with a client. And this guy, one of the bag packers, asked me if he could come home with me for dinner. Then when he was handing me my bag he made sure his hand lingered on mine. Can you imagine? Him really bright!
Taneisha N, accountant
You have a set of men who come to pick up the garbage. Each time they come they ask if they can come in for something to drink and if “you husband” is home. Why? I respect their profession, but I would not be caught with a garbage man. That would not look good on my résumé at all! Unless I meet him when he is well-dressed and I have no idea that is the type of job he does. How would you introduce him to your family?
