Although my own father didn't work in a factory, several of my ancestors and relatives did, and like many of those immigrants and first-generation Americans who came from agricultural Hungary to work during the Industrial Revolution and then some, the stereotype of low intelligence was stuck on them. What a convenient and easy way for people who had command of the English language and some time in here to "other" the Hungarians (as well as others from Central and Eastern Europe) so that they could, pre-union, use them up and spit them out in those days before there was any SSI, SSDI, or other Disability programs. So many men were injured permanently, killed, or sickened and died early from unsafe conditions including pollution into their lungs, and even working long shifts six days a week wasn't enough to support a family.
Now some of these people were uneducated and without skills when they came to the United States and employment was one of their goals in coming here. And perhaps you didn't need to be an "astronaut" to work in the mill but...
But, if you want to bust through this stereotype, consider that given the opportunity, many of their children, grand-children, and great grandchildren are college educated, and Master's Degrees as well as Ph.Ds. and membership in the professions are not at all unheard of.
Now consider, if the "mill hunk" was so stupid, how did his offspring and grandchildren end up smart enough for all that? Intelligence is part of our genetic heritage.
Instead, I think these men worked long and hard and with pride. The mill hunk was also the patriotic man who joined the military and loved his family.
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