For many Malaysians, telling someone what you do for a living can be surprisingly awkward not because of the job itself, but because of how some people react the moment they hear the word “kilang” (factory).
Recently, a Malaysian woman shared an experience online that perfectly captured this issue, turning a simple conversation into an unexpected moment of judgment… followed by instant embarrassment.
“You studied so much just to work in a factory?”
According to her post, an aunty had asked what she worked as. To keep the conversation simple, she replied that she worked in a factory, without mentioning her actual role.
Instead of just acknowledging it, the aunty immediately said:
You studied so much just to work in a factory? My child is a supervisor.”
The woman said it was obvious the aunty was trying to look down on her, assuming she held a low-ranking position.
But before she could respond, her father stepped in and calmly corrected her:
She works in the factory’s lab. She’s a chemist.”
The aunty? Completely stunned and suddenly very quiet.
“Don’t be embarrassed, factory work doesn’t mean a low position”
The woman then reminded everyone not to feel ashamed when telling people they work in a factory.
Working in a factory does not automatically mean you’re in a basic job. And being a chemist does not always mean you must be in the government sector. The private sector is filled with specialised, high-paying science and engineering roles.
“People need to be more open minded instead of assuming and trying to downgrade others.“
Malaysians share their own experiences
The story resonated with many, who began sharing their own versions of being stereotyped.
One netizen, who works as a health and safety consultant, said an aunty once told her:
“You studied for a degree just to become a security guard?”
She simply smiled and walked away because the aunty had no idea she actually earns a five-figure salary, conducts professional workplace safety assessments, prepares detailed reports, and even needed a licence that required an interview with the authorities.
She said she’s too tired to explain all that, so she just lets people assume whatever they want.
“We always say ‘factory job only’ because we’re too lazy to explain”
Another commenter said factory workers often give short answers like “factory job only” because people tend to ask never-ending questions afterwards:
- What position?
- What do you do?
- How much is the salary?
- What does the company make?
To avoid all that, she keeps it short and people usually end the conversation with:
“Oh, as long as it’s halal.”
Others admitted they secretly enjoy seeing people’s shocked expressions when they eventually find out their actual job titles or salaries.
All in all, factories today house highly skilled roles: engineers, chemists, analysts, consultants, and more. Often, the work is technical, specialised, and well-paid, even if the title doesn’t sound “glamorous” to some.
At the end of the day, a job is a job and respect should come from honest work, not from how “prestigious” the title sounds.
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