Concluding Thoughts

15 December 2015

In the End...

Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

Work is work. Work is getting up in the morning to brush your teeth and wash your face.  It is going to classes everyday and resisting the temptation to skip.  It is getting a job and working for pay.  Work is everywhere.  Work is also slaving away in sweat shops, being forced into the sex slavery business, and getting paid seventy some cents an hour while men are paid a dollar.  Work is a fundamental word that holds many different meanings and connotations.  It is seen and found everywhere - good or bad, fair or unfair.  

This semester I learned a lot about work.  Personally - with having a lot of homework, and in class - with learning about work.  Before taking this course, I never really questioned what the word "work" really meant or what it could be applied to.  For me, work was getting a job, going in for shifts, and getting a pay check at the end of the month.  However, after this course I have learned that work is actually so much more.  I learned that work connects to and is found is so many different things - books, poems, pictures, cartoons, world issues, gender inequality, slavery, alienation, the absurd, technology, utopia and dystopia, idleness, emotional labor, stereotypes, incentive, jargons, bullshit and more.  

And, as a result of this course, I have become a better writer.  I have become better at analyzing and interpreting things.  And I have become better at making connections between sources.  

I am grateful for all that has been taught to me this semester and I would 100% recommend this course to anyone.  

Thanks!

Maddy Payne

BNW

15 December 2015

Work and Technology

Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

The society of Brave New World (BNW), in addition to being a contradiction within itself, also warns the American society of technology and the power that comes with it. Technology effects most aspects within the BNW society - birth, life and death. Individual, intellectual, and spiritual growth is limited by technology and work in BNW.

"In the Bottling Room all was harmonious bustle and ordered activity. Flaps of fresh sow's peritoneum ready cut to the proper size came shooting up in little lifts from the Organ Store in the sub-basement. Whizz and then, click! the lift-hatches hew open; the bottle-liner had only to reach out a hand, take the flap, insert, smooth-down, and before the lined bottle had had time to travel out of reach along the endless band, whizz, click! another flap of peritoneum had shot up from the depths, ready to be slipped into yet another bottle, the next of that slow interminable procession on the band. (1.32)"

The quote above shows how so humans are not even reproducing anymore; instead, they are reproducing through work. Babies are made through test tubes, technology, and science. They are conditioned with technology to act and think a certain way. And, put simply, they act as a commodity rather than an individual. In this society technology and advancements contain all the things these people need to live their lives. They are entirely depend upon it. Technology has replaced child birth, family, love, reading, philosophy, thinking, and religion.


The danger of working with technology is that it is consuming. Even today we can see technology taking over people's lives. Work itself is consuming and can alienate people from their lives and themselves. And, working with technology, the individual is already alienating him or herself from others and thus, alienating themselves faster.

Free Write: Connections between alienated labor and the absurd

12 November 2015

The Absurd

Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

What connections do you/can you make/see between alienated labor (or alienation) and the absurd? 

THE connections between alienated labor and the absurd come in the form of doing meaningless work that does not satisfy anyone or anything and trying to find inherent value there but not discovering any. 

Many people today perform work that alienates them from the work itself.  When people get up in the morning it is like the same routine everyday over and over again.  It is somewhat robotic and what used to be pleasant become monotonous.  However, this idea is also ironic because the individual can be alone in the world while he or she is constantly surrounded by people.  

You are alienated from work, which alienates you, and then work becomes your identity.  

My brain hurts. 

Utopia or Dystopia?

1 December 2015

Brave New World
Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, is a contradiction within itself because it presents itself as a utopian society; however, for some it is clearly a dystopian society.  Particularly for the Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon people, it is a utopian society since they were born with a less developed brain because they were given less oxygen before birth.  The three lower classes neither have an understanding of anything besides their basic needs and the norms of society nor do they question the ways of society.  They simply exists and keep the society alive - living, working, reproducing, dying, and repeat.  

Most Alphas and Betas also function in a similar way; however, they have a more developed brain.  And, as a result, a small amount of Alphas will, time to time, question the system and go against the norms of their society - the norms that have been deep seated in them since birth.  An example of a character who does not see this Brave New World as a utopian society is Bernard Marx- an Alpha that does not feel as if he can fit in. 

Brave New World presents a interesting type of utopian society that in a way disguise the characteristics that do not make it a utopian society.  Everyone is "equal;" yet the reproduction system in BNW includes giving certain eggs less oxygen.  Thus, there really is not a choice.  The people of this society are also trained even before birth to act, see, and think a particular way.  There are no wars; there is no poverty.  Everyone is free from religion.  Everyone is free from emotional connections.  Everyone is free from families.  And everybody belongs to everyone else. 

And yet, is it truly a utopian society if people are being controlled to act, think, and see a certain way?  Then there are those like Bernard who break free from the holds of this BNW society; and when he does the society around him quickly goes from being a utopian to a dystopian.  Once Bernard challenged the status quo, goes against society, and starts to think on his own, he is banished by Mustapha Mond. 

Seemingly free.... but not truly. 

One Morning...

23 November 2015

Either Way, You Put It On

Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

All roads lead back to forgetting about it.  Whether we look at the label or not, the fact is, the working conditions these people (who make our clothing) face are not present where we are.  They are, simply put, out of sight, out of mind.  The cartoon shown below demonstrated the ignorance of the American consumer.  How many times do you stop and think about the child that likely sewed together or made the clothing you are wearing right now?  Probably close to none.  

The Chast New Yorker

In the end, all paths lead back to forgetting about it. Americans live in a type of bubble where many do not realize what is actually going on around them.  We live alienated from those who make our clothing, provide our food, produce our products, etc. Likewise, those who perform these tasks also remain alienated from us.  

These people who remain alienated from the world are stuck in the capitalistic features that make up our world. That is the issue with our world today - with America today.  The issue of living in a capitalistic world is becoming a part of something (a function that serves only for a bigger purpose) and losing one's sense of humanity.

Slavery Then and Now

2 November 2015

Never Truly Gone

Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.".

- Passed by Congress January 31, 1865

When people think "slavery," they generally think of the chains, whips, and abuse that was inflicted upon, first, the Native Americans and then later the African Americans.  However, slavery is still present today.  Unlike slavery during the antebellum period when it was legal and socially acceptable, today slavery is hidden from the public eye and involves millions of people from all over the world.  In a way, slavery today is actually worse than slavery back then because of how little the world knows about it and sees it.  Every now and then something will come up in the news about it; however, effort to end human trafficking are still few.  Moreover, slavery today comes in three forms:

1. Labor slavery

2. Sex slavery

3. Child slavery 

All of which generate tons of money for traffickers each year.  

Another reason why slavery today is a lot worse than slavery during the Antebellum period is because the humans being caught and trapped into modern day slavery are usually human who are poor, impoverished, and insignificant in the bigger picture.  That being said, these people who are trafficked are cheap and disposable because no one will come looking for them and even if they were important enough, the family said person came from most likely would not have enough money or resources to find their missing family member.  The problem is that some of these people that are being trafficked do not even understand the degree to which he or she is being exploited.  

Slavery is: 

-not knowing the value of work

-discrimination

-worldwide

Big problem: Governments, policemen (law enforcers) sometimes do not do anything to help stop slavery and allow it to go unpunished. 

How are these people supposed to escape if the very people who enforce the laws and supposedly stop the "bad" are allowing the bad to go unpunished (and sometimes are even involved in the trafficking)?  

**I read an extremely interesting book on human trafficking today... but I cannot remember the exact name. I will find it and post about it once I remember. 

Ain't I A Woman?

21 October 2015

Then and Now
Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

IN her speech "Ain't I A Woman," she addresses many of the gender issues she faced while working, some of which are still extremely prominent today.  Sojourner Truth poses the question "Ain't I A Woman?" and then goes on to describe the stereotypes and unequal treatment women receive.  It is extremely interesting though because she presents the typical woman as someone who "needs to be helped into carriage and lifted over ditches."  However, she also states "Nobody ever helped me into carriage, or over mud puddles," signifying there is more than a gender issue here.  Truth notes that, in addition to women being considered the weaker, lesser gender, race also plays a big role in how she is treated by society.  She is both a minority of genders and races -being a woman and African American.  

In the second stanza she calls out "Look at me Look at my arm!" indicating that her work is a man's work, her arms are like a man's arms and yet, is she not a woman? She even goes as far to say that she has plowed, planted, and gathered into barns and "no man could head" her.  In addition to work, she also bears the lash as men do, but is she not a woman? Women are supposed to be carried over puddles and placed into carriages; yet, she is being worked as hard as a man and lashed, too.

The only identification she mentions about being a women is giving birth to thirteen children, most of which were sold into slavery.  Even then, she is not truly allowed to be a (woman) mother because her children are taken from her.  

Moreover, some men around her state "a woman can't have as much rights are a man cause Christ wasn't a woman."  Truth replies by asking "Where did your Christ come from?"  The answer: God and a woman.  Truth's poem addresses more than the gender inequality, but also racial inequality and the effects of it. Women are given little respect and credit in society and women of color are given even less. 

Today, the racial inequalities in society are still present; however, they are are a lot more subtle. Gender inequalities however are still seen today especially in the workplace. 

Sidenote:

Gender inequality today is demonstrated in-

- Sports

- Pay (job wages)

- Politics 

- Types of jobs 

If women were paid equally a lot of social problems would be decreased. 

Sources: 

Copyright © Sojourner Truth, 1852 & Erlene Stetson (Speech)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ariel-smilowitz/for-us-women-inequality-takes-many-forms_b_7064348.html (Image)

Sexual Harassment In The Workplace

20 October 2015

Helping or Hurting? 

Expo "What is Work?" 1213

Maddy Payne

It is interesting how training and programs that specifically work to lessen the differences and unfair treatment of women in the workplace at the same time heighten the gender issue.  In Kim Elsesser's article, "How Sexual Harassment Training Hurts Women," she addresses the issue of gender inequality and sexual harassment and how businesses and companies are trying to solve it.   

In her article she presents an interesting scenario where a male executive will ask a fellow male employee to get coffee after work in comparison to the same male executive asking a fellow female employee to get coffee after work.  In the first scenario, no one would think twice about it or question whether there was anything more than friendship between the two; however, asking a female would cause a lot more suspicion -whether it be the male executive is hitting on her or if he is using his position of power to sexually harass her - regardless if the action was simply getting coffee after work and talking.  

The training programs and awareness programs for sexual harassment in the workplace are in a way creating a larger barrier - a "sexual partition" - that hurt women in business. Some men are so cautious that they will not schedule one on one meetings with their female employees.  This causes a lack of connection between workers and a lack of connection between bosses and their employees; thus, leaving the company separated and extremely disorganized.  

However, would this issue be as prominent if there were more female CEOs and bosses in the workplace?  It is interesting to consider because sexual harassment in the workplace usually makes people think of a male CEO or boss using his position of power to enable him to sexually harass his female employees -the woman unable to do anything because he is her boss and she needs this job.  

Would it be safe to add sexual harassment training in the workplace to the list of the issues that make up this glass ceiling that is keeping women from breaking through and obtaining high authority position in businesses and companies? 

I am not sure... 

Source: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/06/16/10-things-you-need-to-know-if-youre-sexually-harassed-at-work/

Background information and Citations:

Kim Elsesser is a psychologist and the author of "Sex and the Office: Women, Men, and the Sex Partition That's Dividing the Workplace."

Elsesser, Kim. "How Sexual Harassment Training Hurts Women." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. <http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-elsesser-sexual-harrassment-training-20151009-story.html>.

Image from: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/06/16/10-things-you-need-to-know-if-youre-sexually-harassed-at-work/

Free Write: Incompetent Men in the Business

Maddy Payne

Expo "What is Work?" 1213

29 September 2015

3 main prejudices hold women back from holding positions in management.  As Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic states in his article "Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders," the three main prejudices that have long been kept in society, even after the passing of women's rights.  Firstly, women are not capable.  It is interesting that even with all the great female leaders and activists, society still holds true to the belief that women are not capable of working hard and getting the job done.  

Secondly, women are not interested in holding positions in management.  The reasoning behind this statement?  Maybe it comes from the domain women were originally associated with.  Maybe it is encouraged by the men in society today who do not like housework or doing chores and promote the statement to avoid having to do work themselves, keeping women securely in the home or in lower positioning jobs.  And, even then, maybe it is a combination of both.  

Third, and most likely, women are interested in and capable of holding positions in management; however, the gender roles and stereotypes women face push them back, keeping them from their potential and guiding them away from their dreams.  

The last reason is the most interesting one.  Why is it this "glass ceiling" prevents women from achieving high-level positions in high-level paying jobs?  Why are women shunned for being ambitious and zealous?  Well, there are multiple reasons.  

Men are still seen as the "macho-man," the superior figure who takes care of the weak (the women and children) in society.  Likewise, women are still sexualized in not only the media, but also the work place.  Clothing/appearance play a large role in how women are seen and taken in business and/or politics.  

Moreover, relating to the "macho-men" idea, many people still believe in this -older generations in particular.  That being said, it is the older generations who vote the most; thus, holding a lot of power in politics and the working industries.  Simply looking up the top ten business leaders, the result is mostly white Caucasian males.  

BUT, then again, women do have more opportunities.  As Chamorro-Premuzic brought up in his article, we must understand the difference between confidence and competence.  Sure, this can be applied to both males and females. Males might have confidence but not competence, but women might have competence and lack confidence.  It takes both to succeed in holding positions in management.  And, the lack of confidence might be what is keeping the glass ceiling firmly in place.  

Jokes: 

Am(bitch)tous 

Free Write: Work and Intelligence

10 September 2015

Thoughts on Mike Rose

Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

While reading the introduction of Mike Rose's book, The Mind at Work, I began to realize how unfairly we judge those who perform physical labor and the types of connotations society places on the word intelligence.  The "blue collared" and "white-collared" employees complain about one another, whether it is being tired of looked down up or looking down upon those believed to be of lesser worth.  Intelligence is also a much debated term in the work force.  

Rose breaks down the definition into two parts.  First, cognition, which "refers to those mental processes involving perception, attention, memory, knowing, judging" (xx), all of which can be applied on a personal level.  Things like motives, values, and life goals are all developed and thought about through cognition.  Cognition is, I believe, what drives people to gain intelligence and achieve the goals, obtain the values, and compose the motives they may have.  Second, there is intelligence.  Like Rose said in his book, the Western definition of intelligence is basically the ability to learn and act, to apply knowledge and solve problems (xxi).  Intelligence nowadays has become something that people see as brain smarts.  Intelligence is seen as something that can be measured with an instrument, maybe an IQ test or an ACT score, but really, intelligence can be measured by so much more.  

What is intelligence...? 

What Is Truly Necessary?

8 September 2015

Blue Collars and White Collars

Expo 1213 - What is Work?

Maddy Payne

What is it that most students are told growing up? What is it that most students are told will grant them success in the future?  A college education and a degree.  However, many people today get by without one.  Those who want to become carpenters or masons go through different career training programs called either technical or trade schools.  No, it is not a college degree; however, unlike what many believe, the classes and skills required to become a carpenter or mason/bricklayer actually quite detailed and specific.  

In the documentary we watched today, The Tradesmen: Making an Art of Work, we were able to understand the perspective of work and education from the working class.  Some tradesmen do their jobs because no one else will do it, other believe hands-on, dirty work is the only true work, and then there are some who genuinely like their jobs.  The documentary also it highlighted how essential their contributions to society are in order to keep everything up and running.  That being said, most stereotypes regarding blue collared works are wrong because they do contribute a lot to communities, their contributions just usually go unnoticed or unappreciated.  

Additionally, in the documentary, the beginning opens with a man talking about jobs and how physically and mentally involved people are with their job.  He states that out of every hundred workers, thirteen will have jobs based entirely on mental skills, eighteen will have jobs based solely in manual skills, and the remaining sixty-nine  require a perfect combination of hand and mind coordination.  Personally, I believe that many people assume the working class makes up much of the 18% who only use manual skills; however, blue collared jobs, such as plumbing, carpentry, or bricklaying, are all jobs that require a deeper understanding of a complex system.  Without knowledge of how to do it, it is wrong and the end product is usually dysfunctional.  Today, many people, such as executives and CEOs do not know how to use a hammer, fix their plumbing system, or how to remove shingles and do a repair.  

Consequently, it is hard for many blue collared workers to understand or handle criticism from higher social classes who look down on them.  Many white collared workers hold negative connotations towards blue collared work because of their lack of a degree or university education.  Furthermore, blue collared workers in general are never seen much in the spotlight or shown appreciation for what they do.  Their jobs are seen as basic and only requiring simple thinking skills.  

Opinion on this? 

To come... 

The "Gap" Between Classes

3 September 2015

Is There A Solution?

Expo 1213 - "What is Work?" 

Maddy Payne 

Clearly, one can see looking at the image below how large the "gap" between classes is.  To me, it seems more substantial than a gap.  Regardless, the real question Americans should be thinking about is if this gap that exists and is growing between classes can be lessened.  The minimum wage earner and the median wage earner the pay per hour is more than twice as much.  Furthermore, the amount of money a CEO makes in comparison to a minimum wage earner is $20,160.00 an hour to $7.25 an hour. 

Moreover, the time it takes a minimum wage earner to make enough for one gallon of milk is also substantially less than what is takes a CEO.  What comes easily and without thought for CEOs, is, on the other hand, hard word and time for a minimum wage earner.  Both are working, but only one can afford basic needs.  Is is essentially, from the perspective of the minimum and sometimes median wage earner, having to work so much more than other people for the same result. 

 

Photo from: http://www.thecollaredsheep.com/infographic-the-99-need-a-raise/

So, what is the issue? Minimum wage earners might not be required to know specifics, have a degree in a certain field, or work with advanced technology.  Median wage earners, what I would consider the working class or a little above, might have some specialty skills but are more comfortable with hard work and little show.  However, there are many cases where the minimum and median wage earner both strive to be and work hard to become CEOs but simply do not have enough connections, references, experiences, etc. to do so.  Recent studies show that Americans are naturally hard working.  In Tom Suhrbur's article, "Working Longer and Enjoying it Less?" he describes the Fair Labor Standards Act that was established around 1938 to help prevent factories and businesses from overworking their employees.  This act made the 8 hours/40 hours a week the standard work time; however, nowadays, some, if not most, people work more than this amount.  Why?  Because Americans are always looking for work, always looking for a way to earn more.  

The gap between social classes is due to many reasons, some of which I do not know are fixable. Sometimes it is luck that gets people places.  Many CEOs are simply heirs to what their ancestors created.  Many minimum wage earners do have dreams and talents but simply do not know how to get out of their financial situation or debt.  The economy and social classes are complex and it is going to take a lot of time and planning to figure out a solution to solve the huge occupational inequality in the world today. 

Future Worries

**31 August 2015

Is It Luck?

Expo 1213 "What is Work?" 

Maddy Payne 

The extent of my working experience has been babysitting and dog walking.  Beyond that, I have never had a job that has a uniform, an application process, or specific time shifts.  Which, growing up, was nice but also holds me at a disadvantage because companies, restaurants, and other businesses are less likely to hire an inexperienced person than one who has a lot to show on his or her memory. 

After thinking about this, I wonder if inexperience is maybe a factor in why college graduates struggle with finding jobs after graduating.  Personally, I have a lot of friends who have gone to university, graduated, and are struggling finding jobs.  However, then again, that is why internships are so popular and usually utilized throughout college and during summers.  Thus, it still confuses me as to why college graduates who hold MS degrees, Bachelors degrees, and Masters have such a hard time finding jobs. 

Another reason I think it might be hard for college graduates to find a job out of college is a lack of connections.  Connections get people places.  References, suggestions, names, they are all necessary in order to fight the competition and obtain a job.