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From: diego@cca.UUCP (Diego Gonzalez)
Newsgroups: net.social,net.women
Subject: Re: Rampant misinterpretation on the net (so what else is new?)
Message-ID: <3417@cca.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Jul-85 11:55:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: cca.3417
Posted: Tue Jul 23 11:55:22 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 00:29:32 EDT
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Our occupations are not our only (or, in some cases, really apt)
definitions of ourselves.  Still, being asked what we do is a throwback
to a time when occupations were considered to suit the person involved
in them.  I have this "prostitute" theory. 

In life, we make certain choices (free?) as a matter of course.  One set
of those regards our worth in given situations.  Depending on our
perceived position at the moment, background, needs, social pressure,
and whatever other factors, we negotiate our best deal and "sell" some
portion of our selves to the bidder.  True, we reject some offers, but
at some price we settle.  Very often, the trading is done with an
"employer" who then has certain rights in defining our "jobs."  When a
buyer of our services claims more of our souls than we feel was
bargained for, we look for additional compensation or other places to
work.

Some people disagree with this analogy, but in a way doesn't it put an
objective lens on the issue.  We do make a sale of some part of our
beings, usually with some generalized concept of time and energy
commitment.  Many people (and this attitude is reinforced by most
management programs) look on work as a separate part of life.  Work is
business with its own set of rules and modes of behavior, and then there
is a personal life that is separately maintained.  Work is something one
does for income; life is outside of that.

I don't think that's so.  It seems to me that work is our broad
contribution to society.  One should agree both morally and
temperamentally with one's occupation.  After all, we expect to spend
one third of our most productive years advancing the interests of our
employers (even when we are self-employed).  In this process, through
the contacts and interactions we have with other people and by our
individual contributions to our fields, we leave a mark.  Considering
the importance of work in our lives, then, it seems inexcusable for
anyone to assert that we cannot afford to pursue jobs that are both
pleasing to us and meaningful.  Unfortunately, a lot of folks fear the
uncertainty of changing careers, moving to new locations, or altering
their patterns of living.

When you consider that you have sold some part of yourself for certain
returns, however, you can then evaluate whether the deal is
satisfactory.  Each of us has a life -- just one.  To the extent
possible, we use that experience.  Are we reaching for our own goals or
for the ones we think are expected of us?  When people ask me what I do,
I tell them I am a writer.  That's what I am at this point of my life.
I have rejected some situations because they were not right for me.  I
know what I have sold and on what terms.  If you're not what you do, you
should be in transition to doing something else.

Sophie's right about it taking some time to know or appreciate someone.
Even so, I think saying what we do for a major portion of each week does
tell some significant things about ourselves.  For it's not only the job
but how we express our feelings about it that creates an impression in
other peoples' minds.  If I tell you I'm a welder but I hate my work,
you are going to ask me what I'm intend to do about it.  All of that
discussion becomes part of your image of me.  So why object to people
asking what we do?  It's an expression of interest and it's our
opportunity to present ourselves effectively.  Maybe even change our
image of ourselves and our potentials in the bargain.