The Stigma of the Unemployed

[imported_inspire]

I normally don't find much newsworthy stuff on MSN, beyond a headline and a pargraph, but I read through two full pages of this story and found it to be very eye-opening. It highlights what happens to a person on a personal level when s/he loses a job.

I posted because it's one of the few articles about our current times that makes no excuses, no apologies, and no politics. Whichever side you lean to, this is a good read.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32...news-washington_post//

With unemployment being so high, the stigma of being jobless only compounds the problem. I was a bit taken aback that one guy's wife swore him to secrecy for months because she didn't want the neighbors to know. I just don't understand that - at some point, personal pride has to take a backseat to taking care of your family. As this guy later finds out, by talking about his unemployment, several opportunities arose.

This is a sort of crisis. Not too unlike 9/11. Americans (hell, everybody, for that matter) needs support from their community and their family.

 

[StageLeft]

There was fear that other kids wouldn't play with your kids.

lol, what

These are real people but I think they are in many ways sad, the unemployment has just exposed it.

 

[imported_inspire]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

There was fear that other kids wouldn't play with your kids.

lol, what

These are real people but I think they are in many ways sad, the unemployment has just exposed it.

I think a lot of people base a good portion of their self-worth and family pride on their careers. Many to a disproportionate extent. Part of the 'rat race' mentality, I suppose.

 

[spelletrader]

This is pure idiocy.

It's about vain people attempting to maintain an unnecessary image because they are afraid of what other people may think or say. It is completely disgusting, grow a pair and look for a job, don't loaf around the damn library. These people need to see mental health professionals to establish some self-esteem and self-worth.

"Oh no! What will the Jones' think?!?" Who gives a rats ass!

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: inspire

Originally posted by: Skoorb

There was fear that other kids wouldn't play with your kids.

lol, what

These are real people but I think they are in many ways sad, the unemployment has just exposed it.

I think a lot of people base a good portion of their self-worth and family pride on their careers. Many to a disproportionate extent. Part of the 'rat race' mentality, I suppose.

pretty much

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'm about to pick up a 4th job. :shrug;

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I'm about to pick up a 4th job. :shrug;

You'll be working 4 jobs to make ends meet? That's nothing to be ashamed of (which you obviously aren't) in my eyes it's commendable.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: inspire

Originally posted by: Skoorb

There was fear that other kids wouldn't play with your kids.

lol, what

These are real people but I think they are in many ways sad, the unemployment has just exposed it.

I think a lot of people base a good portion of their self-worth and family pride on their careers. Many to a disproportionate extent. Part of the 'rat race' mentality, I suppose.

You are right and to varying degrees it's hard not to internalize and feel like some degree of a failure when it happens, even if it wasn't "your fault", but if you're getting dressed and going to the library to pretend you're still working, this sounds a lot to me like setting a second place at the table years after your wife is dead. It's a problem. Not telling your friends is especially pathetic.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

If anything, I think the stigma would be less during an awful recession and a time of widespread unemployment and under-employment. If you're going to suffer a period of unemployment, now is the time since there is at least a chance that prospective employers would be understanding and not hold it against you nor pepper you with as many questions about why you were laid off (and then regard your answers skeptically) and why you were unemployed (or underemployed-and-involuntarily-out-of-field) for so long.

 

[her209]

When I was growing up, all the poor kids hung together and all the well off kids hung together. Is it still the case today?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I'm about to pick up a 4th job. :shrug;

:shocked:

I would pick up a 2nd job for more income but I already work 12-16 hrs a day at the first job so there is no way I could do that especially as I am older and feel it more.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
I'm about to pick up a 4th job. :shrug;

You'll be working 4 jobs to make ends meet? That's nothing to be ashamed of (which you obviously aren't) in my eyes it's commendable.

<shrug>
"Commendable" really depends on the hours worked. I had up to three jobs at a time as an undergraduate, but they rarely totalled more than 30 hours/week. It wasn't a huge load at the time.

 

[kranky]

I guess it has something to do with the kind of people you associate with. If you run with a bunch of materialistic snobs, then I can understand not wanting to tell them you are out of work. You already know how they look at such people, and now you'll be the butt of the jokes at the cocktail parties.

That one guy in the article actually said "(there was fear) others would distance themselves from you because you might need help they won't be able to provide."

Yeah, that's the kind of friends I want. Ones who hide from me because I might need help and they won't be able to. I guess in their world "help" could only mean "give me money".

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

So many people just seem to stop maturing past high school nowadays.

 

[imported_inspire]

Originally posted by: kranky
I guess it has something to do with the kind of people you associate with. If you run with a bunch of materialistic snobs, then I can understand not wanting to tell them you are out of work. You already know how they look at such people, and now you'll be the butt of the jokes at the cocktail parties.

That one guy in the article actually said "(there was fear) others would distance themselves from you because you might need help they won't be able to provide."

Yeah, that's the kind of friends I want. Ones who hide from me because I might need help and they won't be able to. I guess in their world "help" could only mean "give me money".

But, I mean, come on - how many of us have friends like that? Those of us who do can generally count them on one hand - and even then, they're not usually our neighbors.