The present term paper is about the image of American waitresses and how it has changed within the past centuries. Waitresses in the United States do not have the best reputation. They earn less than minimum wage and are considered as not so smart. What is the reason for this disdainful treatment of women working as servers and why is it considered as a mostly female occupation?
Eating is one of the basic requirements humans have. According to Maslow’s pyramid of needs, eating is one of the physical needs everybody has besides breathing, drinking, warmth and rest. Why is such a regular and natural thing like eating regarded as a social event? Why is dining in a high-class restaurant considered as a status symbol and why are mostly men serving in such places and not women? What are the psychological, historical and cultural reasons that modulated the image society has of waitresses today?
During my research I will resort to secondary literature and field reports of waitresses in America, to invest the phenomenon of waiting tables in the United States.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 History of the Waitressing in the USA
3 Waitresses in the USA – Minimum Wage and no need for Qualifications
4 The Fascination of the Tip
5 Waitressing – Serving the General Needs
6 Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Themes
This paper examines the historical, psychological, and cultural factors that have shaped the societal perception and low status of waitresses in the United States over the centuries, exploring how the occupation has transitioned from a marginalized role to its current status as a low-skill, service-oriented profession.
- Historical evolution of waitressing in American taverns and restaurants
- The impact of the tipping system on social hierarchy and status
- Economic challenges, specifically regarding minimum wage and lack of professional recognition
- Psychological aspects of the customer-server relationship
- Gender dynamics and stereotypes associated with serving roles
Excerpt from the Book
4 The Fascination of the Tip
People who work as waiters in the USA do not receive the minimum wage. Everything servers in the States earn is the money they make out of tipping. They only obtain a small profit by just receiving the tips, which is the reason for stereotypical images that show the poor waitress or the broke college student in American society. In the USA it is regarded as standard to tip the waitress an amount of 15% of the total costs a customer has in the end of his visit in a restaurant. (Sutton 192) The 15% are considered as a benchmark. The general rule is; if the customer is satisfied with the service, he rewards the waitress and tips more than the usual percentage, if he is not pleased, he penalizes the server by tipping less than the 15%. (Sutton 192) Waitresses have several ways to manipulate the customer and making him or her pay a higher tip, like drawing smileys on their bills, offering them candy or leaning forward while taking their order. (Sutton 193) Still is it not always in their power. Other factors that the servers cannot control often play a role in tipping behavior, like the customer’s general mood or the weather outside. (Sutton 193) The psychology of tipping behavior has led managers of high-end restaurants to a decision which is quite uncommon in American culture. Most of the high-class restaurants have male waiters working there. The reason for men dominating that position is simple and coherent: women serving food still represents the image of the housewife and mother. The clientele at high-end restaurants should not feel reminded of the usual; in comparison to most other restaurants which choose a décor that has the determined aim of creating a warm and cozy atmosphere to make the customer feel welcome and at home.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the societal perception of waitresses in the United States and poses questions regarding the historical and cultural origins of their low reputation.
2 History of the Waitressing in the USA: This section traces the origins of waitressing from early taverns to the nineteenth-century emergence of formal restaurant culture.
3 Waitresses in the USA – Minimum Wage and no need for Qualifications: This chapter discusses the ease of entering the profession, the lack of required skills, and the economic instability caused by low wages.
4 The Fascination of the Tip: This section analyzes how the tipping system functions as a tool for social dominance and influences the dynamics between servers and customers.
5 Waitressing – Serving the General Needs: This chapter explores how waitresses satisfy human psychological and physical needs, acting as essential transmitters in the dining experience.
6 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes how, despite shifts in societal views over 400 years, the occupation remains stigmatized and low-status due to systemic factors like the tipping culture.
Keywords
Waitressing, American Culture, Tipping, Service Industry, Social Status, Gender Roles, Minimum Wage, Restaurant History, Customer-Server Relationship, Stereotypes, Professional Recognition, Maslow's Pyramid, Labor Economics, Societal Perception, Dining Habits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the historical and cultural development of the American waitress and investigates why the profession continues to carry a negative reputation and low societal status.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the evolution of the restaurant industry, the economic realities of waitressing, the psychological impact of the tipping system, and gender-based societal expectations.
What is the main research question?
The central question is how the image of the American waitress has evolved over the centuries and which factors contribute to the current disdainful perception of this profession.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs an analysis of secondary literature, historical reports, and field accounts to investigate the phenomenon of waiting tables in the United States.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The body covers historical milestones from the 17th century, the economic challenges of low pay, the dynamics of tipping, and the role of servers in fulfilling customer needs within the restaurant environment.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
The paper is best characterized by terms like waitressing, social status, tipping, gender roles, and the American restaurant industry.
How does the tipping system contribute to the low status of waitresses?
The author argues that the tipping system creates a hierarchy where the customer acts as a superior patron, allowing them to exert dominance over the waitress, which further reinforces her inferior societal standing.
Why are women historically linked to the role of a waitress?
The text suggests that serving food is often subconsciously associated with the domestic role of a housewife or mother, leading society to undervalue the labor as "natural" rather than professional work.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Julia Merten (Autor:in), 2014, Waitresses in American Culture. How Has the Image of the American Waitress Changed Over the Centuries?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/375458
