Birch Trees. We live in a country where beauty takes many forms. Our job is to protect and enjoy nature’s bounty so it can remain the pride of future generations.
Holding onto Pride
Last week, I watched Dance Life, an Australian mini-series on Prime Video. It documented 19 and 20-year-olds in an advanced school preparing for a highly competitive career after graduation. I was impressed by how the instructors hammered the students to take pride in their training, embracing their craft with the totality of their minds and bodies. It was no place for students who doubted what they were doing and reinforced their need to commit to success. The spectacular graduation performance led to contracts with agents, dance companies, musicals, modeling agencies, and advertising companies.
The series made me wonder how many youths have dreams they follow through to fruition. The Australian students supported each other, pushing frustrated friends to work harder to achieve the highest degree of excellence possible.
I was reminded of crossing the ocean on a Holland American ocean liner with my young husband. We were served in the dining room by a professional waiter and his apprentice. I could see that the younger man looked up to his mentor, performing as his shadow. He stood tall and proud under the head waiter’s tutelage, mastering his movements and style. I felt honored to be at their table.
When my friends and I married, we were determined to outshine each other as homemakers, mothers, and hostesses. We scrubbed our apartments and studied child psychology books to become super-moms. It didn’t matter whether we were also enrolled in college, working, volunteering, or were home as a full-time mom; the goal was to excel. We believed in America as the land of the free, a melting pot that provided opportunities for families to prosper. We were expected to leave the world a better place than when we were born.
The years following the Second World War ushered in an era of prosperity. The economy was booming, with a record number of children being born. During this “Golden Age of American Capitalism,” the government built Interstate highways, libraries, and schools. Inflation and unemployment rates were low. The military spent millions on new technologies, leading to computers and advanced airplane travel. People felt good about being Americans, though pride led to some being labeled ugly Americans when traveling abroad. The dream of home ownership was achievable–that is, for white citizens and those following the dos and don’ts of a conservative society.
The counterculture of the 1960s and 70s was a reaction to the stringent values of the 50s. The Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, and the LGBTQ movements emerged from a desire to recognize all citizens as worthy individuals who could walk down the street with their heads held high. Minorities and women demanded equal treatment at work and access to housing. Youth wanted more freedom and autonomy, especially sexual liberation. The movement was so strong that thousands of us took action. It wasn’t that we believed in dropping out as so many elders claimed; we were dropping in to create a more inclusive society. We were proud to participate in something we saw as fair and essential: treating all Americans equally.
Pride comes from dedication and involvement. A house painter I met recently complained that younger employees show no interest in mastering the techniques of his trade. They do what they can to get by and count the minutes until their shift ends. Is apathy a typical attitude today? What he told me was so different from how I was raised. It didn’t matter if it was a board room or warehouse; I was brainwashed to be all in. I found ways to make routine jobs fun. For example, while picking and packing hundreds of toys to ship out of a warehouse over Christmas, I imagined myself as an elf helping Santa. I feared making a mistake that would lead to a disappointed child. Imagining that my labor was meaningful made the work fun.
The Mental Health Project, a Seattle Times initiative, interviewed 608 people from four generations–Boomers, GenX, Millennials, and GenZ. It concluded that Gen Zers are the least happy at work, with 26 percent wanting to leave their jobs. It wasn’t that they were lazy; it was that they wanted more from their workplace. They want professional development, opportunities to learn, mentorship, and growth. Most of all, they want work they consider meaningful.
COVID-19 gave millions of Americans time to reflect on their jobs. Though many liked their profession, they resigned because they didn’t like how they were treated. They concluded that being over-consumed with work and constantly busy isn’t healthy or satisfying. They started looking for jobs that provided more flexibility.
On average, today’s workers change jobs every 2-3 years. It’s a far cry from a lifelong dedication to a company job that was common after WWII. Businesses are so concerned with their bottom line that they aren’t loyal to their workers. Few offer stable employment that carries substantial retirement benefits. Since that is the case, why should their employees be loyal to them? Loyalty comes with a price tag that includes a competitive salary, excellent benefits, flexibility, and a reasonable workload. Not many people are lucky enough to find work for a company that protects and values its employees above increasing profits for investors.
Millennials and Gen Zers are better educated and credentialed than previous generations. They also have increasingly more debt and a greater need to be with an earning partner. The desire for meaning and security in a gig economy is even more challenging. Short-term jobs related to a career path are hard to find, and self-worth and pride in their work are no longer related to capitalism and production.
So…they are adapting. Careers no longer define the totality of their existence. Upward mobility isn’t the end game. The goal is to find work that provides an adequate salary with a work-life balance that allows time to pursue outside interests. Cultivating a personal life that makes you happy and whole is becoming the norm.
I rarely ask people I’m newly introduced to about their profession. Instead, I want to know their interests and what they do in their free time. One woman told me about the exotic plants she raises. A man described how he plans to ride his bicycle on every street in the city. A senior citizen mentioned collecting trash with SOLVE. These people took pride in their actions and were happy to share their stories.
According to a recent Gallup poll, adult Americans have a historically low regard for our country. This affects their children, who start work at a disadvantage. Without pride in the nation and their communities, they start work feeling hopeless. There is a feeling that nothing they do will make the situation better. They don’t turn up at work to produce the most outstanding products or provide the best service in the world.
Employers have a hurdle to overcome when hiring youth. If they want them to take pride in a job well done, they are challenged to help them see value in their employment. This means mentoring, training, listening, and helping them view the future as one with possibilities for change and growth.
References:
history.Com editors ( 2022) The 1950s. History. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/1950s
Desjardins,M. (2016) Counterculture: The Generational Gap And Reaction to the 1950s. Providence College. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=american_studies_forum
Bregel. S. (2023) Gen Z is the least happy generation at work. FastCompany. Workplace Evolution.Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/90879257/gen-z-happy-workplace-gen-x-millennials-boomers-study
Graham, C. Phd. (2023)Millennials and the Data of Job Loyalty: Why do we leave? Medium. Retrieved from https://cagraham1986.medium.com/millennials-and-the-death-of-job-loyalty-why-do-we-leave-8fca863b516d
Brendan, M. (2023) Extreme Pride in Being American Remains Near Record Low. Gallup. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/507980/extreme-pride-american-remains-near-record-low.aspx#:~:text/
Art is always for sale. Birch Trees is an acrylic painting with natural bark on the trees. It is available on my website, www.ecingerfineart.com, for $ 595. A print delivered to your home can be purchased there for $ 99. Contact me with questions at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com
Do share your thoughts below about pride in work and the nation.
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