UK, Ireland /
Why do UK people look down on us? Maybe because plenty of Polish people work in the sex and cleaning industry? [51]
I don't think the OP is right that most, or even many, Poles in Britain work in the sex industry or cleaning. However, as InPolska said, a high proportion (by no means all) do working-class jobs in the widest sense.
Does this mean British people look down on them? Yes... and no. Some working class British people resent competition from Polish people, and the fact that more supply of candidates for such roles drives down salaries. Most middle- and upper-income British people rather admire Poles for working hard and being generally polite, friendly and constructive citizens. We're more likely to resent British 'chavs' for living on benefits rather than working hard, like stereotypical Poles. Possibly we don't understand that some of our working-class countrypeople can't afford to take those low-income jobs because they have families or other commitments that some newer residents don't.
One solution to stereotyping is understanding; another is change and integration. As time progresses, more Polish people are moving into management and professional roles, which helps a lot, and through intermarriage etc are better known to us on a personal level.
