"我做不了朝九晚五的工作很喜欢纽约Uber司机这份工" 收入虽低压力不大我这辈子做不了美国白领开网约车会被歧视吗? #走线 #海外华人 #赚钱 #低端人口 #移民 #中产 #留学 #美国低薪族

美国低薪族 Poor New Yorker

10 May 202414:50

Summary

TLDRThe speaker discusses the cultural perceptions of jobs like Uber drivers and food delivery workers, contrasting the traditional Chinese mindset that views these roles as low-class with the more egalitarian view in America where such jobs are not stigmatized. They share personal experiences of working in these roles and enjoying the freedom they offer, despite the public's misconceptions about their income and quality of life. The speaker also touches on the flexibility of Uber work as a safety net against unemployment, the potential for high earnings, and the lack of significant differences between the income levels of white-collar workers and gig economy workers after taxes and expenses. They emphasize their personal satisfaction with the work, the lack of experienced discrimination, and the value of their work in the broader American society.

Takeaways

🌏 The speaker emphasizes that in China, there is a strong perception that jobs like food delivery drivers or taxi drivers are low-class, regardless of the income they might earn.
🏆 In contrast, the United States is portrayed as a place without such class distinctions, where even high-earning Uber drivers are not looked down upon.
🚗 The speaker enjoys the freedom and flexibility of driving for Uber and food delivery services, despite public perception and comments about the nature of the work.
💰 The video content is a personal testament to the potential earnings in gig economy jobs, aiming to challenge traditional views on class and income.
🤔 The speaker reflects on the different attitudes towards work and class between China and the U.S., highlighting a cultural mindset shift.
👥 There is a mention of the support and shared experiences with a friend who also works in similar gig economy roles, indicating a sense of community.
📈 The speaker highlights that despite the physical challenges and health risks, the financial rewards and independence of gig work are personally fulfilling.
🏠 Comments on the possibility of buying a house without a traditional W-2 job, suggesting that alternative employment can still lead to financial stability.
🎓 The speaker's educational background in computer science and an MBA is contrasted with their choice to work in the gig economy, emphasizing personal preference over traditional career paths.
🚑 A personal anecdote about not having health insurance and the financial implications of healthcare is shared, adding a layer of vulnerability to the narrative.
🚦 The speaker's boyfriend's discomfort with the visible signs of her Uber work is presented as an example of the social stigma that still exists, even in the U.S.

Q & A

What is the main reason the speaker believes people in China view delivery drivers as lower class?
-The speaker suggests that it is due to an inherent Chinese mindset where jobs like delivery drivers or taxi drivers are traditionally considered low status, regardless of the income they might earn.
Why does the speaker enjoy working as an Uber driver?
-The speaker enjoys the freedom that the job provides, including the ability to set their own schedule and work as much or as little as they want, and the fact that they are paid daily.
What is the speaker's perspective on the social perception of Uber drivers in the United States?
-The speaker believes that in the United States, there is no class distinction or social stigma attached to being an Uber driver, and people are generally treated as equals regardless of their job.
How does the speaker describe the income disparity between white-collar workers and Uber drivers in the United States?
-The speaker notes that despite the perception that white-collar jobs are more prestigious, the actual take-home pay after taxes and benefits may not be significantly higher than that of an Uber driver.
What does the speaker think about the job opportunities for American undergraduates with a bachelor's degree?
-The speaker acknowledges that even American undergraduates with a bachelor's degree can struggle to find jobs, indicating that job prospects are not solely determined by educational qualifications.
Why did the speaker not continue working in game programming?
-The speaker did not continue in game programming because they were assigned simpler website programming tasks due to their gender, which they did not enjoy.
How does the speaker feel about the social status associated with being an Uber driver in China?
-The speaker feels that in China, being an Uber driver, taxi driver, or food delivery driver is seen as a low-status job that is unlikely to change, which contrasts with their personal enjoyment of the work.
What is the speaker's educational background?
-The speaker has a background in computer science, with specializations in multimedia programming, 3D, website programming, and website security. They also hold an MBA degree.
Why did the speaker participate in the Fireboro bicycle event?
-The speaker participated in the event because her boyfriend encouraged her to join, despite her ultimately finding it too challenging and having to use Uber to return home.
What challenges does the speaker face without health insurance in the United States?
-The speaker is reluctant to spend a significant amount of money on medical treatment, such as going to the hospital for an IV drip, because she does not have health insurance and is not willing to incur the high costs.
What is the speaker's view on the importance of medical insurance for workers in the United States?
-The speaker believes that medical insurance is an important benefit, especially for those who do not live in New York and may need it more due to the cost of healthcare.
How does the speaker feel about the comments on their videos suggesting they find a different job due to low income?
-The speaker is surprised and somewhat disheartened by these comments, as they genuinely enjoy their work and do not feel that it is a miserable job despite the public perception.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Cultural Perceptions of Gig Economy Jobs

The speaker discusses cultural differences in the perception of gig economy jobs like Uber and food delivery drivers. They mention that in China, these jobs are often seen as low-class, regardless of the income they can generate. In contrast, the U.S. does not have a strong class distinction, and such jobs are not stigmatized. The speaker emphasizes their enjoyment of the freedom and flexibility these jobs offer, despite public misconceptions about their quality of life.

05:01

😐 Comparing Gig Economy Earnings to Traditional Jobs

The speaker compares the income and lifestyle of gig economy workers to those of traditional white-collar workers. They highlight that despite the potential for high earnings in the gig economy, there is a misconception that these jobs are inferior to white-collar positions. The speaker also talks about the benefits of white-collar jobs, such as better medical insurance and potential retirement packages, but asserts that personal choice plays a significant role in job satisfaction. They share their personal preference for the flexibility of gig work over the constraints of a traditional 9-to-5 job.

10:01

🙂 Personal Experiences and Discrimination

The speaker shares personal experiences of working in the gig economy, including their own and their friend's experiences as Uber drivers. They discuss the lack of discrimination they have faced, with the only instance being a concern from the speaker's boyfriend about the social perception of their job. The speaker also talks about their participation in a bicycle event and the challenges faced afterward, including a lack of health insurance and car issues. They reflect on their positive outlook on their chosen line of work despite societal pressures to conform to traditional employment expectations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Inherent Chinese mindset

This term refers to the deeply ingrained cultural beliefs and attitudes that are characteristic of Chinese society. In the context of the video, it is used to explain why viewers might perceive certain jobs, such as food delivery drivers, as low-status despite the potential for high earnings. The video suggests that this mindset is not as prevalent in America, where such jobs are not necessarily associated with a lower social class.

💡Social class

Social class refers to a system of hierarchical social stratification in which people are grouped into sets of social strata based on factors such as wealth, income, education, and occupation. The video discusses the perception of social class in China versus America, highlighting that in China, jobs like taxi or delivery drivers are often seen as lower class, whereas in America, there is less emphasis on such distinctions.

💡Uber driver

An Uber driver is a person who uses the Uber app to connect with passengers who need transportation services. The video's speaker discusses their personal experience as an Uber driver, emphasizing the enjoyment and freedom they find in the job despite societal perceptions. It is a central theme in the video, as the speaker challenges the negative stereotypes associated with being an Uber driver.

💡Income disclosure

Income disclosure involves publicly revealing one's earnings, which the video's speaker does through their YouTube channel. The act of disclosing income is significant in the video as it challenges viewers' assumptions about the financial viability and desirability of being an Uber driver or delivery worker. It also serves as a counterpoint to the perceived 'misery' of such jobs.

💡Job satisfaction

Job satisfaction refers to the contentment and fulfillment a person derives from their work. The video emphasizes the speaker's high level of job satisfaction despite the physical demands and societal perceptions of their work as an Uber driver. It is a key argument against the notion that such jobs are inherently undesirable or miserable.

💡Class discrimination

Class discrimination is the unfair treatment of an individual based on their perceived social class. The video discusses the lack of such discrimination in the United States, contrasting it with the speaker's perception of attitudes in China. The video uses this concept to argue for the respectability and equality afforded to different professions in America.

💡White-collar vs. blue-collar

White-collar work typically refers to professional or administrative jobs, while blue-collar work involves manual labor or skilled trades. The video explores the social perceptions and stereotypes associated with these types of work, noting that in America, there is less of a divide and more equality among different types of workers.

💡Health insurance

Health insurance provides coverage for medical expenses and is a topic of concern for the video's speaker, who mentions not having health insurance and the financial implications of needing medical care. This highlights the challenges faced by some workers, particularly those in gig economy roles like Uber driving, in accessing affordable healthcare.

💡Gig economy

The gig economy consists of laborers who perform temporary, flexible jobs, often through digital platforms like Uber. The video's speaker is a part of this economy and discusses the freedom and income potential it offers, as well as the societal perceptions and misconceptions about the quality of life for gig workers.

💡YouTuber

A YouTuber is an individual who creates content on the video-sharing platform YouTube. The video's speaker is a YouTuber who shares their experiences as an Uber driver and discusses the reactions and comments from viewers. The term is significant as it represents the modern way in which individuals can share their personal narratives and challenge societal norms.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of a person based on their attributes or characteristics, such as their job. The video's speaker mentions an instance of perceived discrimination from their boyfriend regarding their job as an Uber driver. This highlights the personal and social challenges faced by individuals in jobs that may be stigmatized or misunderstood.

Highlights

The speaker discusses the cultural perception of delivery drivers and taxi drivers in China as being lower class, despite potentially earning a high income.

In contrast, in the U.S. there is no such class distinction, and people do not look down on Uber drivers or delivery workers.

The speaker enjoys the freedom and flexibility of working as an Uber driver and food delivery person, despite others perceiving it as a lowly job.

Many YouTubers who document their daily earnings from driving for Uber or delivering food genuinely enjoy the work, contrary to viewers' assumptions.

The speaker emphasizes that they created the channel to showcase the viability of gig work like Uber as a fallback option if someone loses their job.

Uber and food delivery jobs offer the advantage of daily pay, providing financial stability even if someone becomes unemployed.

The speaker's friend, also an Uber driver, earns more due to being younger and able to work longer hours.

Despite the perception that Uber driving is a miserable job, the speaker and their friend appreciate the work and do not feel it is demeaning.

White collar workers in the U.S. may not necessarily earn more than gig workers like Uber drivers after taxes and expenses are accounted for.

The main benefits of traditional white collar jobs are often better medical insurance and potentially better retirement benefits.

The speaker values the freedom and flexibility of gig work over the perceived prestige of white collar jobs.

The speaker has a background in computer science and an MBA but has chosen not to pursue a traditional corporate career.

The speaker has faced some discrimination from their boyfriend over their choice of work, but not from customers or the broader community.

The speaker participated in a bike ride event around New York City, highlighting their willingness to try new things and step outside their comfort zone.

Despite not having health insurance, the speaker is resourceful and self-sufficient, seeking out affordable ways to treat illnesses.

The speaker's car, a hybrid, represents the trade-offs they make in their life, seeking a balance between cost savings and potential inconveniences.