Why is there so much stigma associated with being unemployed?

[Siri137]

At the moment I am unemployed, and no, I'm not "lazy". There are reasons for it, reasons I don't want to discuss with strangers online (because it's none of their business), and most people who wind up having to claim unemployment benefits do so very reluctantly, because they have no other choice if they don't want to starve and wind up homeless.

The stereotype of the "dole bludger" is just that; a silly stereotype. I'm really lucky though, luckier than most, because I'm relatively secure financially, but often those who wind up without a job or career end up losing everything else as well, and quite often it's NOT their fault.

[Anonymous]

People want you to "suffer" like they suffer at work. I remember vividly when I chose to work from home long before the pandemic after a stint of unemployment because I had a newly diagnosed medical condition. I was undergoing a lot of testing as doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with me, which involved endless appointments meanwhile I was still unable to physically do an 8 hour shift even if I wanted to. Even as I explained I was sick to some people, they took it to mean laziness--like oh, you just don't want to work which is nuts because I'd been working since I was 16, so why all of a sudden would I just out of the blue ditch money when I like everyone else has bills to pay, to stay at home "and do nothing"?

It's because they want you to have to deal with traffic, deal with a boss, deal with all the dramas at work that they do and feel that pain, otherwise, it's not fair...to them. Even as I established my own business which took a lot of work, I had people assuming I did nothing at home but watch tv because working from home was in their minds "so easy." Don't worry, I cleared a lot of these idiots out of my life, but I still see it all the time in other people. Unemployment to them automatically signals laziness, incompetence, and a failure to contribute to society even if that person is doing everything in their power to try and find a new job or they are unable to for reasons out of their control.

[Date_a_Snob]

In my own extended family I know several people who are unemployed. I dont know their individual circumstances but is hard when their telling me about going to yoga and shoe shopping on a Wednesday afternoon while Im stuck at work trying to meet a deadline.

[Willlovewinintheend]

unemployment benefits is the money you earned and worked for. It's not something feel embarrassed about. Some people are snobs just ignore them.

[Vegasrunner]

You wrote a post about yourself online but don't want to discuss yourself online?

[Siri137]

It's not about me; it's about the stigma associated with being unemployed. My own personal situation is just that - personal.

[Vegasrunner]

@siri137 It literally became public once you wrote about yourself on a public forum. The post starts w/ at the moment I an unemployed.

[Siri137]

I simply stated my current employment situation as a fact, and left it at that. No one here needs to know the details.

[Vegasrunner]

@siri137 You should have kept that info to yourself. Anyway the question I am assuming is rhetorical because the reason for the stigma is obvious. Women are fortunate of having the benifit of not having to be held accountable for failure so it does make since as to why you don't understand why there is a stigma.

[Siri137]

The question was not rhetorical, and you know nothing about me, so don't make rude assumptions here.

[Vegasrunner]

@siri137 I was making the assumption you knew what the word rhetorical meant, O guess you don't. The only thing I know about you is you're unemployed I know this because you told me.

[Siri137]

I know what "rhetorical" means (it's a question for which you don't expect an answer, but which is designed to make the person think, i. e. a Socratic question), and no, this wasn't it. Don't pretend to be smart when you clearly aren't.

[Vegasrunner]

@siri137 You're asking why there's a stigma about unemployed adults so not sure if you're the best person to measure intelligence.

[AngryCarl2]

Because that's what the government wants. If the government demonizes the unemployed people will be okay with letting them starve.

[EaterPeter]

No honey

[Siri137]

That's it? Just "no".

[EaterPeter]

That's only applies to guys, right? I think every one should have good job with benefits it dont have to be full time to have medical and 401K. We should carry some of our burden and not be burden on someone else.

[EaterPeter]

Just to have medical and 401K or pension, keep them self busy, keep them sane