is this correct What does work mean? Work means something different to everyone. For instance, if reflecting on the early days of humanity in “hunting and gathering societies, th
is this correct
What does work mean?
Work means something different to everyone. For instance, if reflecting on the early days of humanity in “hunting and gathering societies, the motivation to work was straightforward…If one did not engage in purposeful activity on a regular basis, then one either went hungry or relied on others to share a portion of their food (Hodson & Sullivan, 2011)”. In more modern times, work could be means of making a paycheck to support a family, or someone chasing a passion, or it could be a way for someone to spend time out of the house to maintain healthy relationships at home. In summary, there are just too many reasons to define what does work mean to an individual because of how our society has developed from gathering berries and roots to squeak out a living.
How do we define work?
Merriam-Webster provides several definitions for the word “work”. The first example is “to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary” (“Work,” 2022b) and the second I selected is “to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity” (“Work,” 2022b). Both definitions meet examples of what mankind has been historically and where it is progressing to be in my opinion.
Does unpaid labor = work?
Referencing unpaid labor equaling work, I would again say it is a matter of perspective. There is the cliché “if you love what you do, you’ll never a work a day in your life”, which I personally don’t believe, but respect the opinion of those who believe it. Those who give their time volunteering in programs such as Habitat for Humanity give their time and labors to build houses for those in need, which requires time and energy, two critical components of work, yet these volunteers do not receive financial compensation.
Another example of unpaid labor equaling work is slavery. Many slaves spent numerous years and hours “increasing the output of pottery, cloth, woodenware, or metal tools…and harsh lives in Roman mines” (Hodson & Sullivan, 2011) with absolutely zero compensation. Structures used today, such as the White House and the U.S. Capitol, were both built by slaves (Pasley, 2019), the result of many years of unpaid labors’ work.
Now imagine you have just won the lottery (millions!) and financially do not need to collect a paycheck. Describe your decision to either continue to work or not work and what work means to you.
If I won the lottery, I would not continue to work at my current job, but I would continue to work, though my definition of work would be significantly different. My work would focus on charity and outreach programs, and I would be working part-time vice a full-time nine to five kind of deal. I would want to pursue my passion of being a fishing charter captain/guide, specifically contributing most of the time to organizations like Heroes on the Water, and other charity groups that use fishing/boating/recreational water time as a means of therapy. Maybe it sounds greedy but working part-time would allow me plenty of time to spend with my family my health, and my interests or hobbies.
Work to me means several things. First, it is a means to ensure that my family is provided for financially with a roof over their heads, food on the table, and shoes that fit. Second, work is a way for me to provide a service that often times many people take for granted. I work for an electric utility company, and many people, myself included, take for granted that we can flip a switch in our home and have heat, light, and running water. I take pride that I work to provide an amenity/service that people use everyday to change lives. Lastly, work is a way to pay for my hobbies. Unfortunately hunting, fishing, and water sports/recreation aren’t free, and having a job allows me to pay for those hobbies.
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