Herky Cutler
 |
| Herky Cutler |
I was reading a post in a LinkedIn group I belong to by a man who was telling his story of being highly skilled, educated and experienced, but currently unsuccessful in a rigorous job search. He felt that there was age discrimination going on as a major factor in not being able to find work. A number of others commented on his post, many agreeing with him and sharing similar personal stories, while others encouraged him to not give up and keep trying.
I’m in the same age range as this man, also with lots of skills, experience and education, and I too, am looking for work beyond the consulting and other things that I do. And I too have been unsuccessful in my search. All this has led me to ponder the whole notion of “entitlement.” Reading between the lines of this man’s post, one would think that he felt he was entitled to a great job based on his past performance. It was like he put in his time, did everything he was supposed to do, and now he wanted the payoff!
Have you met anyone else like this? Have you ever been like this? It’s an interesting concept here in our Western culture where many of us feel the world owes us something. For what? Where does it say “do good things and I will pay you back” – The World. Not in my job description of life. I admit that I tell myself if I do good things, good things will happen. Well, bad things happen too, so there is no guarantee as far as I can tell.
So where does this notion of entitlement come from? You guessed it…Burger King and their “have it YOUR way” campaign years ago!
I believe we are entitled to complain, and that’s about it! And I don’t know about you, but complaining/whining/bitching/ ad nauseum hasn’t gotten me very far. What about you?
Apparently, entitlement has reached epidemic proportions!!!
I too find myself once again looking for work and because of age feeling discrimination, and resentment on my part. The resentment I feel however is not because of any sense or feeling of 'entitlement' but because I feel our generation has been disenfranchised. Big difference between feeling a sense of entitlement and knowing you have been disenfranchised because of right-wing globalist ideologies favouring the 1%.
ReplyDeleteThis idea that the poor are fed by feeding the wealthy, is a crock that has been perpetrated on the 99%, resulting in all kinds of injustices that includes wholesale disenfranchising of different segments of our population, including the aged.
I'm afraid Herky, the only ones feeling a sense of entitlement are the fatcats, and the ones facing discrimination are the rest of us... young and old. A 'sense of entitlement' is a foreign concept to most of us, but a religious belief by some. Until that changes, nothing else really will.
You said your resentment is a result of feeling disenfranchised. I am interested in understanding this more.
DeleteDo you mean.... Feeling a loss of something, like the loss of a right (right to work), or something you need? Being marginalized because of age?
I am curious, because without details it does actually sound like a loss of control, hence "entitlement". That you, and others, so say "we".... have woken up to the fact that we thought we had control over our lives, and now we realize we are just wee pawns in the game that the 1% control. We may want to work hard and contribute to society, and our own well being, but the 1% that control credit/ economic development, have control over our lives.
Why do people feel discriminated against? Is it a social stigma or a self confidence issue? If we literally buy into the hype that Burger King is feeding us, of 'Having it Your Way' campaign and internalizing, it than yes we probably will get that feeling of entitlement. I like the idea of having my burger prepared the way I like it and therefore that is as far as it goes in, 'Having it Your way', for me. Their burgers are good in a lot of peoples opinions, mine included. Maybe it is a matter of being overqualified for a position as sometimes happens. Is that a form of discrimination as well, or something to be laughed off over coffee with friends?
ReplyDeleteHave a great day and hope you will be able to find the position that suits your expertise.