Thinking about manual labor typically immediately makes me want to cry. I'm not athletic or coordinated and I never have been. I think I've always just been destined to be a caregiver. Every job I've ever had has revolved around helping people and now my major is education. Can you imagine me doing heavy lifting and manual labor? Probably not. If so, you are really overestimating my capabilities.
For this blog, In Studs Terkel's Working we read about Mike Lefevre, as well as "Lincoln James, a Factory Mechanic." We also hear from John Lefever in "How Does an Appliance Repairman Work" presented by David Plotz.
Mike Lefever is a hard headed, hard worker who talks to about his experience working in manual labor. I find it interesting how much Lefever values his work, yet also refers to himself as a "dummy." Lefever also values the idea of being able to see the finished product of your work, "Picasso can point to a painting. What can I point to? A writer can point to a book. Everybody should have something to point to," (xxxii). I completely understand what Lefever is saying. It's very satisfying to have a tangible object to look to. However, I don't necessarily find that for a job to be meaningful, or for you to feel successful you need to have a tangible object. In addition, Lefever also seems to be a hard headed independent. He repeatedly states how much he hates to be "bugged" throughout his work day, "Stay out of my way, that's all. Work is bad enough, don't bug me," (xxxii). Although Lefever definitely seems like a hard worker, I'm not necessarily sure I would want to work with him for 8 hours every day.
In contrast to Mike Lefever seemingly only wanting to be alone, John Lefever from "How does an Appliance Repairman Work?" really seems to enjoy the interaction he gets from his job. To me, it seems that John really enjoys the puzzle piecing aspect of his job. He not only gets to check the appliances, he also gets to puzzle piece the people together. He gets to observe all these different people with all these different cultures and families and guess why their appliance has the problem that it has. Is it an appliance problem? Did the kids cause it? Etc. I would say both of these men are excellent workers, but when it comes to charisma, I would certainly choose John.
Finally, we have "Lincoln James, a Factory Mechanic." From Studs Terkel's Working. James very much values his work. He claims that he doesn't know what to do without it, "I look forward to going to work. I'd be lost if I wasn't working," (110). Personally, I feel that James is an excellent example of you don't have to love your job to find it meaningful. James seems to take pride in the fact that he's been working in the same place for so long and he doesn't seem to mind any of the conditions in his working enviornment.
Food for thought...
I think that Mike Lefever is a hilarious character. However, he obviously has some deep rooted (or maybe a little on the surface) violence issues. Do you find him likable or unlikeable? Do you think he would be enjoyable to work with?
Cori,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your first paragraph 100%. I am not a manual labor type of girl. That being said, I have so much respect for people that do manual labor for a living. To me, that is an extremely exhausting job, not only mentally but also physically. So props to the people that actually do it. In regards to your final comment, I think Mike Lefever is hilarious, but I wouldn't want to work with him. I think it would be rather difficult.
Cori,
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with being a caregiver! We need people like that in our world. Anyways, I personally found Mike Lefever an interesting man. He reminds me of an older type of worker, like one from the great depression era. A hard working man, who wants nothing else to do but do his job and go home/to the bar, which was exactly what happened during the great depression. I respect men like this, because I know for a fact I want to have a job where I use my brain, not my body, and the fact that these men work only with their body is very admirable.
Cori,
ReplyDeleteSome people were born to be manual laborers and some weren't! Nothing wrong with being a care giver for the rest of your life. Having done both types of work, I know for sure I will not be doing manual labor for career if I have the option.
To answer your question about Mike Levever, I would not want to work with Mike. I enjoy working with people who are very personable and not so hard headed. I think it makes work a lot easier and pleasurable if everyone has a good attitude.
I want to disagree with Art's first sentence. I know what you're saying, but this seems to go too far. And doesn't it complicate your ideas about equal opportunity? (Or are you just talking about the fact that some people are sturdy and some people have hangnail owwies like me? Ha! :-) )
DeleteCori,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see some Crawford reflection in here, but otherwise this is really good. I love the personal flourishes you include. Funny. You have a really magnetic personal-essayist voice.
So, I'm curious about your charisma line. I like John Lefever better than Mike Lefevre (they give me fever. . .in the morning. Fevre into the night. . .Lefevre!), but saying John has more charisma than Mike seems like saying the moon is hotter than the sun. John is, like, steady Betty, and Mike seems to ooze Stanley Kowalski-verve.
Cool deal.
Grade: .85/1