If you're an English major, you know what it's like to tell people about your field of study. People are quick to judge you for not choosing an "employable" major, aka business or nursing. They ask you condescending questions because they don't understand the positives of being an English major. Here are five questions every English major hates being asked:
1. "So, what kind of job can you get with that degree ... if any?"
For your information, employers will prefer our liberal arts education over yours any day. As English majors, we challenge ideas across all subject areas. We can write dissertations, with properly cited references, about a wide range of topics. We go on to have successful careers in media, education, politics, and many other fields. We can do it all.
2. "Can you edit ______ for me?"
If you were to ask me, I would hands down say yes. I love editing people's work (hence I'm an editor here for my college's branch of Odyssey). However, not all English majors want to edit people's work all day. Frankly, we don't always have the time to do that. If we're busy, or we don't want to, check out this free website called Grammarly. It catches more mistakes than your average word processor, and can help you make your papers flawless.
3. "Which one's better: the movie or the book?"
While there's a lot to analyze about film, the book is always better.
4. "So, you read books all day and write papers? Doesn't that seem too easy?"
Too easy? You try writing about characters you don't like (cough, Daisy Buchanan, cough), analyzing motifs, and reading all of your messy annotations in the process. Ask any math or science major how hard it is to write an essay. It can be just as hard, if not harder, for an English major.
5. "I haven't heard of any successful English majors. Have you?"
What, do I have to be famous in order for my major to be valid? Anyways, there are so many famous English majors in the world. Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, Toni Morrison, and Emma Watson were all English majors. These people have gone on to be successful in their chosen careers and endeavors. (Plus, look at all these fabulous women!)
6. "Oh, so how do you feel about the Oxford comma?"
I don't know, how do you feel about your pulse? Pretty necessary, right? Well, that's how I feel about the Oxford comma.
If you're an English major, say it loud and proud. You're going to change this world.
