I want to be a garbage (wo)man but everyone is against it!

Chase what you want! Even if you don't decide to move. Not only to Garbage Collection people make good money, they also get pretty good benefits and insurance. My cousin did this for years. He loved it, knew plenty of women who did it too!

Here's the thing. It is YOUR life, not theirs. If they're so against it, then they're against you. Never allow others to decide what your life is to you, otherwise, in time, you'll lose yourself.

There is nothing wrong with being a garbage woman. I was a garbage man and I loved it. Found good stuff in the trash often. It was one of my favorite jobs ever. The company paid for my CDL (commercial Drivers License) and I got to run the route how I wanted. Garbage is something everyone produces and someone needs to remove it. Go for it! :D

Actually it pays quite well. It's typically 2x to 3x minimum wage to start so for unskilled labor, that's pretty good money. Chronically unemployed people don't want the job because it's "too hard".

Sanitation workers have one of the most important jobs out there. Without them disease, crime, depression, and disobedience would be catastrophic. It would be impossible to run a first world country without sanitation workers. May be a thankless job, but well worth it. I vote go for it.

Though running away seems like a bit much.

Seriously, that's not a job that anyone - male or female - should ever aspire to do. You think that the garbage men you see wanted to be garbage men when they were kids? No way, this is what they do as a last resort, because they can't find any other job. The people in your life telling you to consider a different career are doing it because they care about you. Why would you actually want to be miserable day in and day out and get paid peanuts? And I'm not saying any of this because you're female, I would say the same exact thing to a male. Have bigger and better dreams and give yourself the respect you deserve. Even as something like a part time job or a job that you just want to try out before going to school, there are so many better options to pursue, maybe something that might make you more interested in doing well in school so you can find what you enjoy and want to focus on in the long run.

Go for it.

It's your life not theirs. Do what makes you happy.

I'm a chick and people discourage me from pursuing a career in the automotive industry but I'm going to school in the fall to get my mechanics certification and I currently work in a shop. Just do what you want, it's your job not your parents job

I'd regard myself as highly educated. I've been to university. Wisdom I have in bounty. I too want to be a bin man (UK).
People in are society judge and value you on your job (idiots) but really it's a great job.. the pays pretty good, your finished by noon, you'll have an abundance of time to do hobbies/study what YIU want to study, it'll keep you fit.
I say hit the gym. Work on your personality (not saying it's bad) and be happy.. I bet all your friends would be jealous once they/if they realise you became a real human being.

well let's look at it this way kid!! yes it's pretty frustrating to know that everyone are dead against you.. but all in all it's not a career option but may be if you are starting off AS a garbage collector you should have a proper plan in life..

for an instance today you can start as a garbage collector but in the longer run without staying over there for ages you should try and graduate to the next level like starting a garbage collection company so that soon you could be able to establish yourself in that area of work rather than working your life long as a collector..

why I'm saying this is because today as a result of development garbage is turning out to be a mine of gold for companies who engage in this trade..

one reason is that today the concept of man made islands are becoming a popular concept and you known how these man made islands are filled??

garbage is being imported/exported from different parts of the globe in order to fill these islands..

so kid in a nutshell it's not a career option parsey, and in the event you hop into it don't be a collector life long.. instead graduate to the next level quick by having your own collection point or collection company by working hard for sometime.. because at the end of the day your sitting on a 'mine of gold' if you be smart enough and work your way in starting a company in the field of garbage collection..

refer these links below for the gold mine concept:

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/07/26/ji.semakaulandfill/

for garbage business ideas please read the below link:

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/start-garbage-pickup-business-15786.html

there's an inspirational story which you.should read about how one Beecher man turned single garbage route into $8.4 billion business. read Below:

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/beecher-man-turned-single-garbage-route-into-billion-business/article_13881178-4a2c-5178-b459-ba970a73b2e8.html

good luck kid!!
have fun.. (y)

Do it..I used to have a private hauler, who was one of the hottest women I've ever seen..Had extremely long, thick, sexy as hell nails (how she grabbed and threw trash onto her truck is beyond me), dark blonde hair, very pretty face, fit body, and, although maybe a bit more piercings than I prefer, just overall really damn sexy..I'd wait for her to pull up and get out of the truck, then go out to chat with her..She was in my house twice, when bills were due, and I had thoughts..Many thoughts..Of having at her..

Well, one woman's trash is another woman's treasure, I guess.

Just go for it. Who cares what your family and friends think! If it's something you'd like to do then do it! It's a good job pays good in the future! I have friends that do this job. Might not be the cleanest job but that's what showers are for haha

Go ahead and try it, though you may not be physically capable of it. I'd recommend doing some deadlifts and kettlebell work beforehand and see how much weight you can toss around.

But this isn't firefighting or police work, so you're not exactly endangering your coworkers if you aren't 100%. So go ahead and try it.