Seamen are often held in low regard out of simple ignorance of a lifestyle that is only briefly glimpsed through movies and books, and usually inaccurately at that. We are, as a group, widely and fairly well-educated, though we often do not have the credentials. After a few weeks together, we've heard all of one another's yarns and anecdotes, and so an ad-hoc university is formed, with seminars twice a day for as long as the voyage lasts. Sailor teaches sailor, and that is the way it has been since long before the ancient Phoenicians.
Captains are in a special category for most landsmen.
Thus, we are often viewed as a quaint compendium of Popeye, Captain Queeg, Captain Bligh, and New England Fisherman, with a touch of mystery due to our travels and the fact that almost no one realizes just how we arrived at our level of responsibility. I know of no other profession whereby family or wealth or political connections mean so little. From there, you may progress until you reach a saturation of your abilities and ambitions, whatever level that may be. Sailor teaches sailor, and none of them will follow or obey an officer who has not earned their respect. That officer's rank is secondary in this regard.