At Sunday dinner, my parents treated my sister's finance boyfriend like royalty, but openly made fun of my new guy doing an electrician apprenticeship. I felt sick and totally humiliated. How do I stop this snobbery before it ruins us?

Short answer: your parents are acting like classic snobs out of a bad 90s movie, and you have every right to be furious. Here’s the reality check: skilled trades keep the entire world running, while half the guys in finance just move imaginary numbers between spreadsheets. Your parents' petty roast session isn't about your guy's worth; it's about their own outdated social insecurity. But quietly stewing in embarrassment tells them they can keep treating him like a punchline. You don’t need to flip the roast chicken across the room, but you do need to back your partner up right there in real time. Next time they drop a condescending joke, don't laugh politely. Look them straight in the eye and say calmly: "He's mastering a brilliant, hands-on craft, and I'm really proud of him—so drop the digs, please." Stand by your guy. A decent person with calluses on their hands beats dinner-table pretension every single day of the week.