Respect for Labor
In the past two generations of American society, labor professions have become less popular. Working with one’s hands is seen as dirty and below a person of above-average intelligence. In an essay titled “The Case for Working with Your Hands,” Matthew B. Crawford, Ph.D. in political philosophy, calls for more respect for the working class, explaining that blue collar jobs in America are underappreciated and underpopulated (368-78). Crawford eloquently illustrates a serious issue in America. He is correct in his essay; People often look down upon laborers in this country; therefore, children grow up scared to enter building trades that can offer satisfaction and cognitive challenges. The useful arts allow workers to experience pride in their work, stimulation in their mind, and meaning in their lives.
In his article, Dr. Crawford, who is currently a full time motorcycle mechanic, explains that whenever Americans examine the field of useful arts, they see jobs that appear to be physically tough and unhygienic. Parents steer their children away from these careers with hopes that their kids will attend college and seek employment in an office. Dr. Crawford argues, “A gifted young person who chooses to become a mechanic rather than to accumulate academic credentials is viewed as eccentric, if not self-destructive” (369). If a child who could succeed in college chooses to use his hands for a living instead, that child is making a mistake. Furthermore, the average citizen does not see the positive aspects that come with labor professions. Not only does the field offer deep satisfaction after the completion of challenging tasks, the profession can also offer challenges of the mind just like an office job. Dr. Crawford describes a motorcycle mechanic who demonstrated the vast knowledge that laborers posses: “Then Fred gave me an impromptu dissertation on the peculiar metallurgy of these Honda starter-motor bushings of the mid-’70s. Here was a scholar” (371). Similar stories of laborers using their intellect are common in jobs all over America. Consequently, Crawford argues, Americans should respect labor professions as satisfying and mentally challenging.
Dr. Crawford accurately explains that when labor employees complete projects at their jobs, they experience satisfaction and pride that cannot be felt by white collar workers. He states, “A good job requires a field of action where you can put your best capacities to work and see an effect in the world” (Crawford 377). In the different professions of labor, workers can see immediate benefits of their work in the world around them. For example, while working as a lifeguard at Chilli Bay Water Park, I was required to perform labor jobs that were unrelated to my regular lifeguard duties. One of these projects included repairing an underwater chain that attached a floating shark to the bottom of the pool. Two chain lengths had to be added in order to make the chain long enough to correctly anchor the shark in the water. The shark float was a park favorite for many visitors, and Chilli Bay was not the same while the float was out of service. The task of adding the chain lengths was difficult. I repeatedly held my breath for extended periods of time, and the goggles I was working with seemed to fill with water every few minutes. However, when the chain was fixed and patrons could return to their beloved shark float, I was proud and satisfied with my work. I could see the results of my completed task immediately, which is the reason the job was so rewarding. The reward offered at the end of a labor intensive job is not available in white collar jobs. Americans should embrace the job of a laborer as respectable because of the instant impact such a task can have in a community. Laborers must use their physical and mental skills to produce quality work.
Another point Dr. Crawford correctly explains is the way jobs demanding labor can provoke a worker’s mind. Dr. Crawford describes his work as a motorcycle mechanic in his own shop: “And it frequently requires complex thinking” (371). Despite what a large portion of America’s population may think, labor jobs like work at a motorcycle repair shop require looking for solutions to a problem with several cognitive skills. For instance, I recently built a top to a column for an upcoming drama production at my school. The top had to be shaped like a pyramid and extend six inches past the edge of the column on each side. In order to complete the task, I had to take measurements, make diagrams, and use trigonometry. I then cut and pieced together cardboard to create the top. Whenever I placed the pyramid atop the column, the shape might have appeared simple, but the thought processes behind the shape were complex. Similarly, many labor jobs require calculations and prior planning before a project can be carried out. For many laborers, such interesting and thought provoking projects are their passion in life.
Dr. Crawford is once again correct in arguing that many workers in the labor profession are living their dreams. He quotes Marge Piercy: “The pitcher longs for water to carry/and a person for work that is real” (qtd. in Crawford 369). There is a natural inclination within a person to complete manual labor. Growing up, I often enjoyed playing with Legos. Using the bricks, I built creations that featured many shapes, sizes, and colors. Despite Legos being a popular pastime for many Americans similar to myself, dedicating oneself to building houses, cars, or motorcycles is looked down upon in this country. There is a systematic flaw in the United States that children cannot be encouraged to earn a decent wage by completing a task similar to one they completed growing up. If America wants their workers to sit in a cubicle all day, why are children not given data to enter into a spreadsheet when they are young? Young Americans should be encouraged to pursue their passions, even if that passion involves manual labor.
In his essay “The Case for Working with Your Hands,” Dr. Matthew B. Crawford, a Ph.D. and a motorcycle mechanic, justly argues that labor professions in America should be viewed in a positive light. Hopefully, Americans can grow to appreciate the importance of labor professionals, and children can seek employment in the field without opposition from those around them. Dr. Crawford correctly explains how satisfying, thought-provoking, and pleasurable the useful arts can be to the people who choose to pursue careers working with their hands.
Works Cited
Crawford, Matthew B. “The Case for Working with Your Hands.” Acting out Culture , 3rd ed., Bedford St. Martin's, 2015, pp. 368–378.
In his article, Dr. Crawford, who is currently a full time motorcycle mechanic, explains that whenever Americans examine the field of useful arts, they see jobs that appear to be physically tough and unhygienic. Parents steer their children away from these careers with hopes that their kids will attend college and seek employment in an office. Dr. Crawford argues, “A gifted young person who chooses to become a mechanic rather than to accumulate academic credentials is viewed as eccentric, if not self-destructive” (369). If a child who could succeed in college chooses to use his hands for a living instead, that child is making a mistake. Furthermore, the average citizen does not see the positive aspects that come with labor professions. Not only does the field offer deep satisfaction after the completion of challenging tasks, the profession can also offer challenges of the mind just like an office job. Dr. Crawford describes a motorcycle mechanic who demonstrated the vast knowledge that laborers posses: “Then Fred gave me an impromptu dissertation on the peculiar metallurgy of these Honda starter-motor bushings of the mid-’70s. Here was a scholar” (371). Similar stories of laborers using their intellect are common in jobs all over America. Consequently, Crawford argues, Americans should respect labor professions as satisfying and mentally challenging.
Dr. Crawford accurately explains that when labor employees complete projects at their jobs, they experience satisfaction and pride that cannot be felt by white collar workers. He states, “A good job requires a field of action where you can put your best capacities to work and see an effect in the world” (Crawford 377). In the different professions of labor, workers can see immediate benefits of their work in the world around them. For example, while working as a lifeguard at Chilli Bay Water Park, I was required to perform labor jobs that were unrelated to my regular lifeguard duties. One of these projects included repairing an underwater chain that attached a floating shark to the bottom of the pool. Two chain lengths had to be added in order to make the chain long enough to correctly anchor the shark in the water. The shark float was a park favorite for many visitors, and Chilli Bay was not the same while the float was out of service. The task of adding the chain lengths was difficult. I repeatedly held my breath for extended periods of time, and the goggles I was working with seemed to fill with water every few minutes. However, when the chain was fixed and patrons could return to their beloved shark float, I was proud and satisfied with my work. I could see the results of my completed task immediately, which is the reason the job was so rewarding. The reward offered at the end of a labor intensive job is not available in white collar jobs. Americans should embrace the job of a laborer as respectable because of the instant impact such a task can have in a community. Laborers must use their physical and mental skills to produce quality work.
Another point Dr. Crawford correctly explains is the way jobs demanding labor can provoke a worker’s mind. Dr. Crawford describes his work as a motorcycle mechanic in his own shop: “And it frequently requires complex thinking” (371). Despite what a large portion of America’s population may think, labor jobs like work at a motorcycle repair shop require looking for solutions to a problem with several cognitive skills. For instance, I recently built a top to a column for an upcoming drama production at my school. The top had to be shaped like a pyramid and extend six inches past the edge of the column on each side. In order to complete the task, I had to take measurements, make diagrams, and use trigonometry. I then cut and pieced together cardboard to create the top. Whenever I placed the pyramid atop the column, the shape might have appeared simple, but the thought processes behind the shape were complex. Similarly, many labor jobs require calculations and prior planning before a project can be carried out. For many laborers, such interesting and thought provoking projects are their passion in life.
Dr. Crawford is once again correct in arguing that many workers in the labor profession are living their dreams. He quotes Marge Piercy: “The pitcher longs for water to carry/and a person for work that is real” (qtd. in Crawford 369). There is a natural inclination within a person to complete manual labor. Growing up, I often enjoyed playing with Legos. Using the bricks, I built creations that featured many shapes, sizes, and colors. Despite Legos being a popular pastime for many Americans similar to myself, dedicating oneself to building houses, cars, or motorcycles is looked down upon in this country. There is a systematic flaw in the United States that children cannot be encouraged to earn a decent wage by completing a task similar to one they completed growing up. If America wants their workers to sit in a cubicle all day, why are children not given data to enter into a spreadsheet when they are young? Young Americans should be encouraged to pursue their passions, even if that passion involves manual labor.
In his essay “The Case for Working with Your Hands,” Dr. Matthew B. Crawford, a Ph.D. and a motorcycle mechanic, justly argues that labor professions in America should be viewed in a positive light. Hopefully, Americans can grow to appreciate the importance of labor professionals, and children can seek employment in the field without opposition from those around them. Dr. Crawford correctly explains how satisfying, thought-provoking, and pleasurable the useful arts can be to the people who choose to pursue careers working with their hands.
Works Cited
Crawford, Matthew B. “The Case for Working with Your Hands.” Acting out Culture , 3rd ed., Bedford St. Martin's, 2015, pp. 368–378.