Blue-Collared Jobs
A waitress places a customer’s order onto his table. The customer, who is a lawyer, replies with a quiet, “Thanks.” After the man is finished, the waitress walks over to the table to find that the man did not tip her. Did the man discriminate against the waitress because he had a higher education? In the article “Blue-Collar Brilliance,” known author Mike Rose makes claims on how individuals and groups of people view each other based on their level of education. Even though many individuals would argue against Rose, he continues to complain that blue-collared jobs should require specialized skills, should be respected, and shouldn’t hinder social rank.
In order to be efficient, blue-collared jobs require certain skills that white-collared jobs do not. Rose himself writes, “Verbal and mathematical skills drive measures of intelligence in the Western Hemisphere, and many of the kinds of work I studied are thought to require relatively little proficiency in either” (252). In Rose’s quote, he directly addresses the fact that blue-collared jobs require skills that aren’t always acknowledged as valuable trades. Rose goes on to exemplify that the skills required to be a carpenter share few similarities with the skills required to be a lawyer. Also, Rose introduces the thought that blue-collared jobs entail certain thought processing and problem-solving skills that white-collared jobs do not offer. All in all, Rose believes that even though blue-collared jobs and white-collared jobs are different, the skills that each type of jobs require are essential, and he believes those skills should be honored.
Rose believes that blue-collared jobs should be as highly valued as white-collared jobs in today’s society. Rose states, “Although writers and scholars have often looked at the working class, they have generally focused on the values such workers exhibit rather than on the thought their work requires-a subtle but persuasive omission” (247). In the previous quote, Rose goes in depth to explain that the values displayed from workers in the working class have been more examined than the actual thought process the job requires. Even though most individuals would agree that blue-collared jobs are necessary in today’s society, Rose urges that blue-collared jobs should share the same importance as white-collared jobs. With that being said, Rose complains that blue-collared jobs and the people who have a blue-collared job do not get the respect they deserve due to the values exhibited which, in turn, is viewed as the worker’s social class.
The mindset in the United States today is that if an individual has a blue-collared job, he or she has a lower social ranking than an individual with a white-collared job. According to Rose, “Intelligence is closely associated with formal education-the type of schooling a person has, how much and how long-and most people seem to move comfortably from that notion to a belief that work requiring less schooling requires less intelligence” (Rose 247). In his quote, Rose is claiming that in today’s society, the amount of education one has determines how smart he or she is. Contrary to society’s beliefs, Rose complains that although some individuals have less education, the individual’s intelligence should not be determined by how much formal education he or she has. With that being said, Rose disagrees with the thought of the amount of formal education determining the social ranking of an individual.
Although many individuals disagree with the article “Blue-Collar Brilliance” written by known author Mike Rose, he still suggests that blue-collared jobs should entail essential skills, should be honored, and shouldn’t determine social rank. Throughout the passage Rose sticks to the idea that society ranks people due to their amount of education; however, Rose finds infinite value in blue-collared jobs and all that they entail. Did the lawyer really discriminate against the waitress that served him by not tipping her? If so, that is just one of many ways society looks down on individuals with less formal education.
Works Cited
Rose, Mike. "Blue Collar Brilliance." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 243-254. Print
In order to be efficient, blue-collared jobs require certain skills that white-collared jobs do not. Rose himself writes, “Verbal and mathematical skills drive measures of intelligence in the Western Hemisphere, and many of the kinds of work I studied are thought to require relatively little proficiency in either” (252). In Rose’s quote, he directly addresses the fact that blue-collared jobs require skills that aren’t always acknowledged as valuable trades. Rose goes on to exemplify that the skills required to be a carpenter share few similarities with the skills required to be a lawyer. Also, Rose introduces the thought that blue-collared jobs entail certain thought processing and problem-solving skills that white-collared jobs do not offer. All in all, Rose believes that even though blue-collared jobs and white-collared jobs are different, the skills that each type of jobs require are essential, and he believes those skills should be honored.
Rose believes that blue-collared jobs should be as highly valued as white-collared jobs in today’s society. Rose states, “Although writers and scholars have often looked at the working class, they have generally focused on the values such workers exhibit rather than on the thought their work requires-a subtle but persuasive omission” (247). In the previous quote, Rose goes in depth to explain that the values displayed from workers in the working class have been more examined than the actual thought process the job requires. Even though most individuals would agree that blue-collared jobs are necessary in today’s society, Rose urges that blue-collared jobs should share the same importance as white-collared jobs. With that being said, Rose complains that blue-collared jobs and the people who have a blue-collared job do not get the respect they deserve due to the values exhibited which, in turn, is viewed as the worker’s social class.
The mindset in the United States today is that if an individual has a blue-collared job, he or she has a lower social ranking than an individual with a white-collared job. According to Rose, “Intelligence is closely associated with formal education-the type of schooling a person has, how much and how long-and most people seem to move comfortably from that notion to a belief that work requiring less schooling requires less intelligence” (Rose 247). In his quote, Rose is claiming that in today’s society, the amount of education one has determines how smart he or she is. Contrary to society’s beliefs, Rose complains that although some individuals have less education, the individual’s intelligence should not be determined by how much formal education he or she has. With that being said, Rose disagrees with the thought of the amount of formal education determining the social ranking of an individual.
Although many individuals disagree with the article “Blue-Collar Brilliance” written by known author Mike Rose, he still suggests that blue-collared jobs should entail essential skills, should be honored, and shouldn’t determine social rank. Throughout the passage Rose sticks to the idea that society ranks people due to their amount of education; however, Rose finds infinite value in blue-collared jobs and all that they entail. Did the lawyer really discriminate against the waitress that served him by not tipping her? If so, that is just one of many ways society looks down on individuals with less formal education.
Works Cited
Rose, Mike. "Blue Collar Brilliance." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 243-254. Print