Work Ethic: Work Hard or Go to Hell
With innovation and technology that we have, with the social activists and widespread communication that we have, why is exclusion of those with limited mobility disabilities still so prevalent? Something is happening on a deeper, internal level. An inner ranking system. There are two main theoretical frameworks that lend a hand to delving deeper and fully understanding why exclusion is happening in relation to a ranking system. These two frameworks are the Protestant work ethic and eugenics. Therefore, by understanding these two theoretical constructions one can understand a ranking system that is taking place subconsciously which acts as a barrier to embracing those with limited mobility.
Work Ethic: Work Hard or Go to Hell
“The worker who was more efficiently producing products was considered closer to God than a worker who was not.”
The workplace has adopted ideologies. What once was God’s law, has now become secularized and omnipresent. According to a variety of religions, God gave a commandment to work. This work was linked to divine glory, and was a religious duty. It held with it such high stakes as being allowed into heaven or not. Improvement in production served the common good and was considered Godly. Therefore, the worker who was more efficiently producing products was considered closer to God than a worker who was not. These ideologies are so deeply intertwined into our thoughts and internal ranking system. Therefore, since these ideologies are intertwined they happen on their own at a level that we are largely unaware of.
No Pain, No Gain
The idea that work needs to be hard; “no pain, no gain” is also related to this framework. “Loss of time through sociability...is worthy of absolute moral condemnation” (Weber, 2013). Enjoying work, or working comfortably then wasn’t work at all but something that would send you to hell. The thought then follows, if you are in an alternate physical position putting your comfort first, then you are not working hard enough. Therefore you are immoral and not worth God’s grace; morally condemned.
Idle Time,
“Each and every minute you devote to work, brings you closer to God.”
The idea that work must be constant is also related to this framework. In regard to work, Max Weber states, “it is infinitely valuable because every hour lost is lost to labour for the glory of God” (Weber, 2013). Each and every minute you devote to work, brings you closer to God. All time must be devoted to hard work and hard labor. This statement implies that if you take even a minute off, you have lost God for that amount of time.
In Conclusion,
This framework has huge psychological implications. This way of understanding work is deeply ingrained in all of us. So deeply ingrained, that we don’t realize when we are creating value judgements with such voracity as moral condemnation. Therefore, the piece of the iceberg that is visible above the surface may say “I want inclusivity”, but the grand piece of the iceberg below the surface is saying “labor must be constant and hard, labor must come as first priority not you and not your comfort.” This presents a barrier to embracing those who need unique structures in order to work productively. This barrier thereby creates poverty and a disabling society.
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