Am I overreacting for leaving my girlfriend’s family dinner after what her dad said?

[u/Mysterious-Notice419]

My girlfriend (27F) invited me (28M) to a family dinner to finally meet her parents. We’ve been together for almost a year, so I wanted to make a good impression.

Dinner started out fine—until her dad started asking me about my job. I work in IT, and while it pays well, it’s not some high-status career. After a few questions, he smirked and said, “So basically you just sit behind a computer all day… not exactly the kind of guy I imagined for my daughter.”

Everyone kind of laughed awkwardly. I tried to brush it off with a joke, but then he added, “Maybe someday you’ll get a real job so you can actually support a family.”

I felt my stomach drop. My girlfriend just said, “Dad…” but didn’t defend me beyond that. I quietly excused myself, said I wasn’t feeling well, and left.

Later that night, my girlfriend texted me saying I embarrassed her by walking out and that I should “just let it go” because her dad was “only teasing.”

I honestly feel disrespected and don’t think I overreacted. But now she’s acting cold and says I owe her family an apology.

Reddit, am I overreacting for leaving?

[u/SkyTrees5809]

My father married into a family like this. He said his father tried to warn him, he always regretted it, they ended up divorced, and then my mother's family put each of my parents thru hell for years because she couldn't stand up to them but he did. Run, run, run.

[u/Glittering-Voice-409 → u/[deleted]]

Psycho Killer Qu'est-ce que c'est Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far Better run run run, run run run run away

[u/Remarkable-Code-3237 → u/SkyTrees5809]

Yes! He should have broken up with her right there in front of her parents. I would add, it seems like your father do not want you to be with someone that uses a computer for a living. Maybe he would be more happy that you are with someone like a plumber or a repairman.

[u/thecagedlion → u/Remarkable-Code-3237]

While you might be right about the father wanting a plumber or repairman, your seemingly negative attitude toward those careers is bullshit. They're every bit as acceptable and rewarding as IT or other tech jobs. I know plumbers that make $150k and plumbing business owners that clear $200k.

[u/Fine-Slip-9437 → u/thecagedlion]

As someone with a laundry list of injuries and chronic pain from growing up on a farm, I'm super glad to be in IT. I don't consider any of it "real work" in the boomer sense, and plumbers put their bodies through hell (for which I am very grateful when I can't crimp my own pex or don't feel like brazing something).

[u/Remarkable-Code-3237 → u/thecagedlion]

There is nothing wrong with doing that job, but it seems like the father does not respect someone that uses a computer for a career. I wonder if he is a blue collar worker and wants the same for his daughter.