Is this omnivore discrimination?
Many Craigslist users make use of the housing section. (For example: Apartments for rent, sublets, etc.) Craigslist’s fair housing policy is very clear. Basically, it is illegal to discriminate based on the following categories: race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, handicap/disability. Well, I was recently browsing the housing section when I stumbled upon an ad that caught my eye:
“Looking for one female vegetarian roommate.”
At first, I laughed. I couldn’t help but imagine scenarios in which the person placing the ad requires proof that the individual is, in fact, a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian and sharing an apartment with a non-vegetarian, does it really matter if one person eats tofu while the other eats non-organic, non-free range, probably killed at the hands of George W. Bush meat?
Perhaps I should not joke about the matter as I once lost a job opportunity because of a mix-up concerning how comfortable I am around meat. For the record: I am comfortable around meat. I once kissed a dead pig that was a part of a hog-roast before everyone in my carnivorous family started eating it. It was a ritualistic act: a pretty girl is supposed to kiss the pig before everyone can enjoy it. I was young and on the family farm. Someone told me I should do it, and I did it. This action, I feel, should be sufficient proof as to how comfortable I am around dead animals.
This is how the mix-up happened. The interview was going fine until the interviewee asked me, “How comfortable are you around meat?” I misinterpreted the question. I assumed he wanted to know if I was comfortable working directly with meat. Like, in the butcher area of the store, for example. Immediately I had visions of the butcher in the movie version of Fiddler on the Roof. The memory scared me.
“Oh, well, I’d rather not work with meat.” I replied.
“You mean you can’t work with meat?”
“I’d rather not.”
“So, let’s say you were a cashier and a customer was purchasing meat, you wouldn’t be able to handle the situation?”
Ohhh, I get what he is saying. He doesn’t want me to work with meat in the butcher shop, he wants me to work around meat. Ohhh. Ohhh.
I explained how I had misinterpreted his question and that I was comfortable with meat. I think I might have even added, “I like meat.” The whole conversation felt very bizarre.
The interviewee went on to explain how in the past certain cashiers in the store had trouble being around meat. A customer would go to purchase a pack of humanely slaughtered, magically organic pork-chops but the cashier would burst into tears and be unable to complete the order. He asked me how I would handle this situation.
“As a cashier, could you ring up meat?” he asked, looking me directly in the eyes.
I reassured him that Yes, I could ring up meat. I wouldn’t have any trouble. Except, at this point in the interview I got the sense he no longer trusted me. He returned to his notepad, quickly jotting down notes. I imagine the notes read:
“She does not do meat. Do not hire her at any cost.”
Perhaps he concluded I was a crazy, extreme vegetarian. Ha ha! How amusing! But wait, isn’t that the kind of employee they want at a trendy, new age organic store? Anyway, I didn’t get the job. Maybe it had nothing to do with the meat mix-up but my instincts tell me otherwise.
The ad on Craigslist reminded me of this past fiasco. I hope whoever posted the ad finds their female vegetarian roommate. If not, maybe they can reconcile their differences. Just not over dinner.
“Looking for one female vegetarian roommate.”
At first, I laughed. I couldn’t help but imagine scenarios in which the person placing the ad requires proof that the individual is, in fact, a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian and sharing an apartment with a non-vegetarian, does it really matter if one person eats tofu while the other eats non-organic, non-free range, probably killed at the hands of George W. Bush meat?
Perhaps I should not joke about the matter as I once lost a job opportunity because of a mix-up concerning how comfortable I am around meat. For the record: I am comfortable around meat. I once kissed a dead pig that was a part of a hog-roast before everyone in my carnivorous family started eating it. It was a ritualistic act: a pretty girl is supposed to kiss the pig before everyone can enjoy it. I was young and on the family farm. Someone told me I should do it, and I did it. This action, I feel, should be sufficient proof as to how comfortable I am around dead animals.
This is how the mix-up happened. The interview was going fine until the interviewee asked me, “How comfortable are you around meat?” I misinterpreted the question. I assumed he wanted to know if I was comfortable working directly with meat. Like, in the butcher area of the store, for example. Immediately I had visions of the butcher in the movie version of Fiddler on the Roof. The memory scared me.
“Oh, well, I’d rather not work with meat.” I replied.
“You mean you can’t work with meat?”
“I’d rather not.”
“So, let’s say you were a cashier and a customer was purchasing meat, you wouldn’t be able to handle the situation?”
Ohhh, I get what he is saying. He doesn’t want me to work with meat in the butcher shop, he wants me to work around meat. Ohhh. Ohhh.
I explained how I had misinterpreted his question and that I was comfortable with meat. I think I might have even added, “I like meat.” The whole conversation felt very bizarre.
The interviewee went on to explain how in the past certain cashiers in the store had trouble being around meat. A customer would go to purchase a pack of humanely slaughtered, magically organic pork-chops but the cashier would burst into tears and be unable to complete the order. He asked me how I would handle this situation.
“As a cashier, could you ring up meat?” he asked, looking me directly in the eyes.
I reassured him that Yes, I could ring up meat. I wouldn’t have any trouble. Except, at this point in the interview I got the sense he no longer trusted me. He returned to his notepad, quickly jotting down notes. I imagine the notes read:
“She does not do meat. Do not hire her at any cost.”
Perhaps he concluded I was a crazy, extreme vegetarian. Ha ha! How amusing! But wait, isn’t that the kind of employee they want at a trendy, new age organic store? Anyway, I didn’t get the job. Maybe it had nothing to do with the meat mix-up but my instincts tell me otherwise.
The ad on Craigslist reminded me of this past fiasco. I hope whoever posted the ad finds their female vegetarian roommate. If not, maybe they can reconcile their differences. Just not over dinner.
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