Hard Work Value - 1670 Words

The belief in hard work and its rewards is a universal American value. Born of one of America’s foundational mythologies, that all men are created equal, hard work is thought to be the key to securing financial and social success. When all are equal, so the argument goes, success depends not on the circumstances of one’s birth—race, class, gender or geography—but on one’s natural talents and willingness to work hard. Within this meritocratic framework, hard work, not opportunity, is the primary determiner of achievement. Contemporary ethnographies support this claim; studies of the working-class from Silva, Hochschild, and Lamont, along with Khan’s ethnography of the upper middle-class, confirm a fundamental belief in the merit of hard†¦show more content†¦Lamont’s respondents ranked â€Å"being hardworking† as one of the most valued positive qualities a person could have (pg. 20). The workers Lamont interviewed also pl aced emphasis on the non-monetary rewards of hard work; conflating hard work with responsibility and caring for others (pg. 24). It is through hard work that these workers exert some measure of control over their often-unpredictable environments (Lamont, pg. 23). Arlie Russell Hochschild’s book, Strangers in Their Own Land, echoes many of the same observations. Hochschild’s respondents spoke of working hard for their whole lives and being proud of that hard work, regardless of the outcome (pg. 155). Hochschild’s workers expressed the sentiment that work is its own reward, and that hard work is honorable (pg. 149, 155). Notably, the working-class subjects of these studies rarely emphasize the financial rewards of hard work except when relative to providing for others—yet another mark of the honor hard work confers. Like their working-class counterparts, members of the upper middle-class share a commitment to hard work that deemphasize economic rewards and focuses on character and ability. Shamus Rahman Khan’s book, Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School, interviewed students who, though economic success seems certain, remain acutely aware of the need to work hard. Students believe hard work won them entry toShow MoreRelatedThe Value Of Hard Work1017 Words   |  5 PagesDec 2015 The Value of Hard Work Essentially, the concept of one’s ability to participate in manual labor has been juxtaposed with strength and endurance. However, it is not considerable to say that white-collar are always â€Å"weaker† than other labors because a person needs both the effectiveness in physical works and the mental effort that he/she gives in order to be successful on works. With this belief, I will analyze three opinions about hard work in Crawford, Braaksma, and Colon works. To begin,Read MoreThe Importance Of A Quality Trait That I Value Is Hard Work936 Words   |  4 PagesA quality trait that I value is hard work. Many things that have obtained throughout my life were not given to me by chance or luck, but through a series of commitments and dedications. Below I will present some moments of my life that helped me develop my work ethic. At age 10, I was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. During this period of my life, I went from being a child with a normal lifestyle, to a child whose life was being tested at an early age. I remember I had to take about 9 different medicationRead MoreThe Values Of Hard Work, Family Unity, And Frugalness Have Shaped My Family1996 Words   |  8 PagesThe values of hard work, family unity, and frugalness have shaped my family’s lifestyle. One of the insecurities I have had in my relationship with my father is feeling like his love was conditional. In nonverbal ways, he would demonstrate to me that I would need to work hard at school, receive great grades, and always be on my best behavior to earn his love. Now, as an adult, I know people should love me solely on who I am as a person. Yet, it has been challenging for me to have this new point ofRead MoreThe Role Of Achievement Motivation1732 Words   |  7 Pagesof the impediments, and X-ray the human variables in realizing this obj ective. Hence, â€Å"The role of achievement motivation in industrial development in Nigeria†. Volumes of literatures were reviewed, and data was collected and analyzed. The research work was aimed at finding out the extent to which the need for achievement motivation, the intrinsic and autocentric self-directed enthusiasm from childhood could be instrumental to industrial growth and development. The approach therefore, takes departureRead MoreEssay On Patriotism944 Words   |  4 PagesAffordable Care Act and due to the lessons she learned at the Naval Academy (Yeager). McGrath explains and recounts these values in her viral campaign video â€Å"Told Me†. The advertisement Told Me persuades the viewers to vote for Amy McGrath by appealing obviously to the value of patriotism, but more subtly to the values of nontraditional gender roles and hard work. The value of patriotism is obviously seen through the images presented in the advertisement. Throughout the advertisement, Amy McGrathRead MoreThe First Edition Of The Mcguffey Readers By William Holmes Mcguffey1692 Words   |  7 Pagesdevout Presbyterian, raised in 19th century America. These schoolbooks outline the values and expectations of a society built upon a Christian base on the brink of industrialization. Societal relationships were built upon concepts taught in the Readers. The events of industrialization, and immigration will challenge these guidelines and contain interesting results for the use of the Readers morals within society. These values cause the tensions amongst economic groups within the industrialization of AmericaRead MoreMy Family And Education Is Important For Your Future1221 Words   |  5 Pagessociety that contradicts the values of my family is homosexuality. As mentioned above, religion is a large part of my family, therefore, homosexuality is not pa rt of the catholic religion. With that being said my family has a strong opinion and belief about same sex relationships. The second theme compliments my family’s values and that is getting and education. In broader culture getting and education is important for your future and in my family they believe in the same value. I also believe that thereRead MoreRugby Vs. Football Club Team Essay1334 Words   |  6 PagesWhen most people think of rugby they usually do not automatically think about values and social issues. In reality, rugby is directly connected to many simple yet important values and social issues in the world today. Rugby is not a very popular sport in the United States, as it is overshadowed by sports such as football and basketball. Rugby is an intense game, similar to football, played without pads and helmets, in which players are scrambling to keep control of the always live ball and scoreRead MoreSocial Welfare : The Protestant Work Ethic And The Spirit Of C apitalism995 Words   |  4 PagesProtestant Work Ethic and Foucault’s analysis of power structures and the welfare state. The support systems in place to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable members of society are able to survive have been the subject of increasing scrutinisation and hostility as we have entered the 21st Century. This hostility to social welfare can be seen in the intense backlash against the Affordable Care Act in America, and the current ethos permeating Australian culture that it is better to work in demeaningRead MoreCulture Is It Anyway, Culture, Values, Attitudes, And Traditions902 Words   |  4 PagesCulture has been defined as the knowledge, values, attitudes, and traditions that guide the behavior of a group of people and allow them to solve the problems of living in their environment. Beyond this standard definition, I believe that culture is a conglomeration of the things we adopt from our families, friends, peers, and other members of o ur community. As Reyes stated in her article â€Å"Whose culture is it anyway,† culture extends to all individuals, including those considered â€Å"of the norm† within