Terkel
Toniann German
Soc#Ass.7
I feel what Terkel is arguing is that in order to understand the true meaning of work ethic we must separate the idea that work is about making money. Rather Terkel suggest that we must find meaning within the work that we do. Even if you are stuck in jobs we may not like, we must take pride in what we are doing. His example of the waitress may show that although to some her job may seem simple, To the waitress it is meaningful. She takes pride in that she is good at her job and provides great service to her customers. The waitress takes pride in making her customers happy. I feel that although the work may not be enjoyable Terkle wants us to look at how our work is benefiting our lives and values.
I believe that because we live in a world were work ethic is not viewed in Terkles point of view, society has had to try to sell happiness along with their products. For example, most of us have heard the saying service with a smile. This is because many people are being told to fake smiles and fake their happiness in order to make sales. Instead Terkel is saying that we must find joy in what we do so we can provide a real joyful experience.
There is a human disconnect from work, Terkel expresses how the people through his interviews felt as if humans no longer matter in their work. Terkel brings up the point of human jobs being taken over by technology. As a result people no longer feel as if they are being noticed or appreciated in their jobs in addition to feeling as if they are not making a difference. I also found his interviews with the blue-collar workers and the white-collar workers very interesting. I found it very surprising that in both types of work the employees felt unhappiness and at times invisible.
Although I agree with Terkel in that it is important to find happiness within your work, especially because not everyone has the option to purse their dreams. I do however think that it is easier said than done. It is very hard to find happiness in a job which you work in only to maintain your survival. It is hard to find happiness in work where you are unappreciated, underpaid, and replaceable by machinery.
