tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647813.post7471581581225977943..comments2019-07-02T17:23:40.562-06:00Comments on Contemplations: The Demoralization of UnemploymentLaura Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17579160512689867301noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647813.post-50543247244315401852012-03-23T20:45:53.232-06:002012-03-23T20:45:53.232-06:00Most of my working life, I have fought the stigma ...Most of my working life, I have fought the stigma of making much less than one of my siblings. He was employed in the military-industrial complex and frequently said that I knew nothing about the "real world" because I chose to work in education and academia. <br /><br />I am now working as a substitute teacher and consider myself a very good one, but it is a pretty thankless job. It is hard work, with little respect from anyone. (Most people's thought: "she must not be any good if she can't even get a full time teaching job.") And, I only work about 3 or 4 days of the week. Even if I worked every day for a full school year, that would only be $95 per day X 180 school days = $17,100. Since I work between 3 and 4 days a week, usually, that would be around $12,000. Humiliating.<br /><br />It is a shame that you have become invisible to your family. It is almost like having some strange, and possibly contagious disease. People don't want to associate with you. I hope you get through this phase of your life and come out stronger. I think it has made me more empathetic with the poor and unemployed.Laura Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17579160512689867301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647813.post-89335486905738638592012-03-22T17:42:41.113-06:002012-03-22T17:42:41.113-06:00Hi Laura,
Another aspect of being unemployed is t...Hi Laura,<br /><br />Another aspect of being unemployed is that your family will start to see you differently and treat you differently even though you are still the very highly qualified and talented person you've always been. <br /><br />If one more person "insists" that they pay for my lunch I will puke it up on their feet. I hate the arguments that go with it and my mother is doing the same thing. <br /><br />Today I received an email from my sister who "announced to the family" that she was going on holiday and brother "M" was going to be the communicator for Mom's health and change in living situation until she returns." <br /><br />I've been with my Mom for 5 winters while she travelled to a warmer climate in Canada. I moved her in and moved her out of the city she visited and spent all 5 months with her each year. I know her well, travelled with her while she was able to travel and became very acquainted and have spent so much time together. So now I moved back to the city she is living in as she can no longer travel in the winter.<br /><br />No where in this email I received today did it say, "call Me" if there is any information you need to pass on to the the other siblings. Nothing! <br /><br />It's like I don't even exist because I'm on the 'dole'. <br /><br />Instead sister asked brother x to be looking after her finances and the other brother x to be the communicator and daughter x to be overseeing all health matters and then upon her return she will be the chief at least that's what the email communicates.<br /><br />I don't even exist and sister x does not even acknowledge my very special relation with Mom because I am not rich like her and don't have a job so no income. <br /><br />The demoratization of the unemployed is being felt by many people in their 50s and 60s who are looking for work in a country where discrimination in the workpalce and the family is rampant.<br /><br />It's a sad day today for me to realize that my siblings are caught up in the 'judgement society' where you are what your income is and 'what you do' for a living in order to have a place in the family decisions and in particluar Mom's life during her last days.<br /><br />Thanks for listening,<br />unemployed and demoralized by my familyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com