Identity, Work and Labor Essays - 990 Words

What are the differences between work and labor? There are many differences between work and labor. At the same time, it is complex to point out these differences because they are subtle. To illustrate one difference between work and labor, here is an example from a building site. The manager or contractor organizes the structure of the tasks that need to be executed. The laborers are those who are doing the heavy work, laying bricks, digging the holes and carrying the lumber. The manager, foreman and the laborers, however, are all working at the site. It is only those doing the heavy work that would be considered to be laboring. Some people work very hard and they really enjoy their work, while others find work to be a chore, could at†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, they had only taken a vacation a few times in their entire careers. Joe Robinson says, â€Å"Vacations can makes people with A-type personalities feel worthless, † (Vacation Doesn’t Work, New York times, 2008). I think very differently and I would encourage them to take vacations or to explore new things in their life. It was really hard for me to see how they became slaves to their work and didn’t receive extra payment for the extra time they worked for years and years. Some of these people retired and were so disrupted in their lives that they didn’t know what to do. Shortly after they retired they became sick and died. The work gave meaning to their life. The author, in the â€Å"Ant and Grasshopper†, Aesop (86), the author describes that the ant works very hard during summer to store food for the winter. She labors through the task while the grasshopper sang and didn’t care about the winter. Life is so much more intricate than this; people are a lot more complex than insects and it is not always easy to accomplish those tasks that the workers or the boss had impose on their selves to accomplish a specific task or project. Their level of constant worry and pressure is intensified when they have a dead line to finish a task. Nevertheless in the corporate world people have to follow certain schedule. For example the employees at some large companies need to sign in and out when they arrive at work andShow MoreRelatedAs I have shown, throughout his essays, Gordon establishes a narrative of the past in the Diaspora1200 Words   |  5 Pagesestablishes a narrative of the past in the Diaspora which is distinctly negative, dra wing on images of the Jewish people as passive and parasitic, alienated from nature and labor and accordingly without a living culture. Through his ideology, Gordon establishes an idea of the perfect relationship between people, nature and labor; a relationship that must be withheld in order for a people to be a living, creative culture. Gordon asserts that the Jewish people have been kept apart from the natural sphereRead MoreWorking Class Solidarity:Rebuilding Youngstown1205 Words   |  5 PagesWorking-Class Solidarity; Rebuilding Youngstown Undoubtedly work and place influence its surroundings. Youngstown, Ohio is emphasized as one in particular. As a result â€Å"steelmaking fueled the area’s economy and defined its identity† (68). The city was represented in newspapers, art work, postcards, and many texts as both â€Å"impressive and attractive† (75), as well as â€Å"imposing, confusing, and uninviting† (86). Considering the conflicting representations, steelmaking â€Å"also suggest(s) a key element ofRead MoreFather Son And The Father1353 Words   |  6 Pagesdirectly. Stevens inability to communicate with his father blatantly highlights the emotional barrier between the two characters. Furthermore, by relinquishing his father of his duties, Stevens will be effectively stripping the man of his professional identity. Stevens is unable to directly demote his father, however, further suggesting that he is unwilling to fully assume the figure of dominance over his father. If Stevens were t o directly address his father on this professional level, he would fullyRead More Examining the American Identity Essay837 Words   |  4 PagesExamining the American Identity â€Å"Americans aren’t idyll daydreamers; they take the initiative.† (Cato.org) In his statement, Edward Hudgins, the director of regulatory studies at the Cato Institute, captures the essence of â€Å"Americaness.† Since the publishing of Ben Franklin’s Autobiography in 1790, this definition of Americans as go-getters and self-made-men has become stock. While Franklin’s life story helped define the American identity, the discussion of what an American is began decadesRead MoreOverseas Chinese and Chinese People Essay1615 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans have their ancestors in other countries. Even though they are called â€Å"Americans†, they have a special identity, that is, hyphenated Americans actually. Chinese-Americans have been one of the large groups of hyphenated Americans since a long time ago. This passage mainly observes the living conditions of Chinese-Americans in America and tries to analyze how the hyphenation identity impa cts their thoughts and life. The first section gives a brief introduction about Chinese-American, includingRead MoreThe Rights Of Immigration And Citizenship Essay1564 Words   |  7 PagesThe high presence of immigrants in ‘vulnerable’ labor markets make the pathways for migration and citizenship critical in accessing agency. The legality of labor for immigrants affects the vulnerability of immigrants. The ‘under the table’ nature of many economic opportunities presented to immigrant populations changes the stability of accumulating capital or creating economic mobility. The ‘off the books’ nature changes the agency to immigrants to gain their wages, protest exploitation and to attainRead MoreMarx And Engels s Impact On Society1349 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieved could use revolution to bring an end to capitalism. The proletariats were a class that depended on selling their labor to survive. Being just another commodity exposed them to the c hanges of competition and the market. Manufacturing factories changed the nature of work for laborers and devaluated and alienated workers. Division of labor and machines caused laborers’ work to lose individual character and they become slaves of the bourgeoisie. Marx recognized that exploitation of workers didRead MoreThe Flaws of Prison Labor Essay687 Words   |  3 PagesThe Flaws of Prison Labor The debate over prison labor has existed as long as the concept it’s self. Opponents claim that it exploits prisoners, takes away jobs from the general population, and puts people in danger by allowing convicts access to their personal information. While supporters of prison labor argue that it helps the economy as well as benefits prisoners. On this issue I stand on the side of the supporters. By having prisoners work we are accomplishing several beneficial thingsRead MoreDual Career Families1654 Words   |  7 Pageshome and completed the majority of the domestic work. The traditional marriage has definitely changed, as it has become more of a norm for both the husband and wife to maintain separate careers. Research has identified numerous variables that affect the stability of a marriage. The factors that have been identified as affecting marriages and in turn influencing divorce rates include: financial stressors, domestic workload, job stressors, identity strains, and marital interaction time. The resultsRead MoreHurricanes And Its Impact On The United States1107 Words   |  5 Pagesdescriptive chronologies by David L. Niddrie and David M. Ludlow to name a few. By reviewing and using all of these resources, Louis A. Pà ©rez concluded that the 1840’s hurricanes had an effect on agriculture, social relations, and the overall national identity of Cuba. The Cuban coffee, tobacco, and sugar productions transformed in the 19th century due to the hurricanes of 1842, 1844, and 1846. The productions of coffee, tobacco, and sugar prior to the 1840’s hurricanes were profitable businesses. Many