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« Hey Everyone... | Main | Some Links »
Classist Bullshit
June 27, 2003
...is what I wrote in my notebook while listening to the keynote speaker at today's festivities. She was talking about her wonderful community technology program in Palo Alto CA, and about how parents of the children in her community are "ill-equipped" to provide them with the tools they need to achieve "prestigious" jobs. And how the children she works with talk about how they want to become janitors and landscapers like their parents, and doctors and lawyers like the people they see on TV.
What the fuck?
Is this a progressive event, or is it an event that perpetuates the stigmatization of certain career choices?
Which is not to say that I don't see the value in promoting education to enhance choices among children in economically depressed areas, but can we not also be mindful of the vocabulary we use to discuss career choices and opportunities so we are not continuing to oppress those who either have no choice or actually choose to be janitors and landscapers?
I have a lot to say on this subject, but I've just been called back to session. I'd love to hear what everyone thinks about education and career options and why some careers are set up to be less worthy than others. Because I keep encountering this wall within my organization...and it frustrates me to no end. Obviously, our society is set up to make so-called "higher" education unachievable by all, so why do we then conclude that those who do not obtain a degree are somehow unfit or unworthy of decency, not to mention unable to turn around and provide their children with information necessary for them to make their own decisions about what to do with their futures.
No parent who cares about their children is "ill-equipped" I don't fucking care if you never even went to school, if you have a child and you love that child, you are perfectly equipped to find ways to help that child become whoever that child wishes to become.
OK...these are rough thoughts...more later. Please feel free to discuss for now, I'm not sure when I'll be back.
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Comments
P.S. -- Member, SEIU/CSA Local 925
I agree. It bothers me that our "leaders" bitch and moan about how everyone needs to get a job so they can get off welfare (except corporations, of course), but they invalidate blue collar and service industry career choices and refuse to back minimum wage increases, child care subsidies, and other measures to actually help lower income people stand on their own, without being propped up by big daddy.
I read, a few years back, a help wanted ad in the newspaper for a bottled water delivery person, bachelor's degree required. Why on earth does a person need a bachelor's degree to drive a panel van and carry heavy bottles of water into offices? Our society will not function properly without people to deliver the water, drive the taxis, staff the hotels, sell the retail products, cook the food, stock the stores, patch the potholes, etc., and there are very few instances in which any one of those people ought to be required to have more than secondary education, and every one of them ought to be respected for getting up and going to their jobs and putting in the time and effort to contribute.