stereotypical single woman

On a map there’s only a 20 mile difference between where I’m working now and where I used to work, but in the terms of society the two areas are worlds apart.

Previously I had worked in the suburbs. Most of my patrons were middle to upper class, suburban, white collar auto workers. A generally quiet, affluent, and homogeneous society. We did get our share of homeless people there as well, but even they had a suburban quality about them, carrying around their dumpster-dived Starbucks coffee cups. Interactions with that community were civil and reserved, but in a good way. I was called “dear”, “honey”, and “sweetie” by a lot of the older people.

It’s a little different working in downtown Detroit. I’m not saying that the people aren’t nice, so far everyone has been exceptionally friendly. It’s just……different. After helping a middle-aged gentleman find out where his class was he smiled at me, said “thanks bitch!”, and went on his merry little way. And then this morning I was standing outside waiting for the doors to the library to open. I don’t have a swipe card to use the staff entrance yet so I have to wait outside with all the over-eager students and homeless people for the main doors to be unlocked. Our little group is in clear view of the security guards - standing there, drinking their coffee, eating donuts, and actively ignoring us. I know they’re just following the rules, but it’s also more than a little obvious that they get a kick out of seeing people standing there waiting. Bastards. This morning it was a little chilly, so I was rubbing my hands together to keep them warm, when one of the wanna-be thugs starts pounding on the doors, yelling “Yo, I’m gonna pop a cap in yo ass! It ain’t right, you makin’ a pretty woman freeze waitin’ out here!”

Chivalry in Detroit, it’s not dead. Just a little more violent.