It is strange to ask people, upon first meeting them, about their religion, political views, or leisure activities. But it is perfectly acceptable to ask them about their work. Over at Inside Higher Ed, historian Steven Mintz asks: Why do Americans define themselves primarily in terms of their work and not in terms of their religion, family, politics, or leisure?
Here is a taste:
In terms of timing, it appears that the post–World War II era marked a significant turning point, when a series of social, economic and demographic developments intersected. Suburbanization and the decline in distinct ethnic neighborhoods, the growth of middle management and corporate bureaucracies, and a sharp increase in college attendance and mothers in the job market combined to make workplace identities more salient.
Of course, there were other contributors as well. There was a tendency, evident even in the 19th century, to equate one’s personal worth and virtue with professional achievement and economic success. The idea that individuals can achieve success and upward mobility through hard work and entrepreneurship has reinforced the notion that one’s career and work are central to personal identity. The narrative of self-made success places a strong emphasis on individual effort and career accomplishments as the main paths to achieving the American Dream.
We may have moved far from the idealized Protestant work ethic, with its emphasis on hard work, discipline, and frugality as a route to spiritual salvation as well as worldly success. But the idea that work is a moral duty and a pathway to self-worth remains firmly intact.
Professional achievements and job titles often confer social status and respect. Americans often use their jobs to signal their social identity, values and belonging to certain social or professional groups.
Many, and perhaps most, of us find fulfillment and a sense of purpose through our work. It provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and contributes significantly to our self-esteem and self-image. Recognition for one’s skills and talents is a major source of pride and self-identity. The emphasis on meritocracy further reinforces the belief that hard work and talent are the primary means to achieve success, further linking personal identity to professional accomplishments.
How is it, we must ask, that work became culturally ascendant, and the pursuit of a career achieved a kind of centrality in the American psyche?
Read the entire piece here.