six - Changing constructions of work
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Summary
‘Paid work’ does not explicitly feature in the exploration of the meaning of a good life in Chapter Two. However, it resonates through some of the themes that we identified. In Bauman's view of modern happiness, paid work is the means by which one can enter the pursuit of this elusive goal. The capacity to undertake paid work suggests an equality or citizenship that invites participation in the society and in the social contract that governs us. And paid work can be seen as one of the ways in which we exercise commitment and duty or virtue in our lives. It is also one means by which we might acquire wisdom, which shapes our view of a good life. It is one of the means that brings us into relationships with others.
Further as we will see in this chapter access to paid work currently enjoys a central place in thinking about how to enable people with intellectual disabilities to attain a better life, as this extract from Valuing people now (DH, 2009) illustrates:
Good person-centred planning can take time. Rather than use this as an excuse for inaction, effective managers will already be planning to develop what we know people say is most important to them and what society expects for all other people – access to real, paid work. As well as providing income, paid work opens up other opportunities such as social networks … reinvestment strategies should move from traditional day services to a social inclusion strategy. (DH, 2009, p 30)
It is for these reasons that we chose work as a case study with which to end Part Two.
Undoubtedly, many people with intellectual disabilities value work, particularly paid work. Marie talked a lot about work in her account. It is important to her. Many of the themes articulated in Valuing people now (DH, 2009) appear in her account. She recognises her obligation to earn money, and the self-esteem that comes with it:
“You have to work for it really you know to get money, kind of thing. Everything can't be a piece of cake, like you know. It was nice to work like you know. They were very good, like, you know. And I think I was the only person out of the whole lot that had a learning disability, I think so. It was good being the only one, like, you know.”
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- Information
- People with Intellectual DisabilitiesTowards a Good Life?, pp. 99 - 110Publisher: Bristol University PressPrint publication year: 2010