I perceived a magic worker while strolling through a bustling market one sunny afternoon. His presence was enchanting; an air of mystery surrounded him. With every step, people turned their heads, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his captivating spell. His dark, flowing robe billowed behind him as he gracefully moved through the crowd, like a ghost in the mist. The magic worker's eyes held a gleam of ancient wisdom and secrets untold. They seemed to hold the power of the universe within them, drawing people closer with their hypnotic gaze.
So here’s how the argument usually goes. Women, they say, gravitate towards lower-paid industries such as nursing, cleaning, teaching, social work, childcare, customer service or administrative work, while men choose to work in politics, business, science, and other manly, well-paid industries. Those who propagate this idea usually aren’t interested in a solution, since they see no problem, but if asked to provide one, they might suggest that women behave more like men, one aspect of this being to take up careers in male-dominated industries that are more well-paid (and respected, but they seldom say this out loud).
Despite this, there is a persistent idea among many in mainstream society mostly men, and some women that the gender wage gap is simply a myth, that women are paid less on average because of the specific choices that women make in their careers. Otherwise, this practice will remain invisible and will be easily subsumed to other categories of social work, what will not respect it s diversity and uniqueness.
They seemed to hold the power of the universe within them, drawing people closer with their hypnotic gaze. As he passed, whispers of admiration and awe fell like petals around him. Some described him as a sorcerer from distant lands, others believed he possessed supernatural abilities.
Patriarchy’s Magic Trick: How Anything Perceived As Women’s Work Immediately Sheds Its Value
The gender wage gap has long been an issue of importance for feminists, and one that consistently finds itself on the UN and government agendas. Despite this, there is a persistent idea among many in mainstream society (mostly men, and some women) that the gender wage gap is simply a myth, that women are paid less on average because of the specific choices that women make in their careers. Everything, they claim, from the industry a woman chooses to establish herself in, to the hours she chooses to work, to her decision to take time off to spend with her children, and so on, leads to lower pay, for reasons, they confidently assure us, that have nothing at all to do with sexism. Now we could delve into, and rebut, these points at length, but in this post, I will focus only on the assertion that the wage gap exists partly because women choose to go into industries that just happen — what a coincidence! — to be lower paid.
So here’s how the argument usually goes. Women, they say, gravitate towards lower-paid industries such as nursing, cleaning, teaching, social work, childcare, customer service or administrative work, while men choose to work in politics, business, science, and other manly, well-paid industries. Those who propagate this idea usually aren’t interested in a solution, since they see no problem, but if asked to provide one, they might suggest that women behave more like men, one aspect of this being to take up careers in male-dominated industries that are more well-paid (and respected, but they seldom say this out loud).
But is this really a solution, even a small one? What their analysis misses out is the question of how the average pay levels of different industries are decided in the first place. There’s demand and supply, of course, but another factor is the perceived value of the role, and what it means to society. Let’s examine a traditionally male-dominated role that is very well-respected, and well-paid, in many parts of the world — that of a doctor. In the UK, it is listed as one of the top ten lucrative careers, and the average annual income of a family doctor in the US is well into six figures. It also confers on you significant social status, and a common stereotype in Asian communities is of parents encouraging their children to become doctors.
One of my lecturers at university once presented us with this thought exercise: why are doctors so highly paid, and so well-respected? Our answers were predictable. Because they save lives, their skills are extremely important, and it takes years and years of education to become one. All sound, logical reasons. But these traits that doctors possess are universal. So why is it, she asked, that doctors in Russia are so lowly paid? Making less than £7,500 a year, it is one of the lowest paid professions in Russia, and poorly respected at that. Why is this?
The answer is crushingly, breathtakingly simple. In Russia, the majority of doctors are women. Here’s a quote from Carol Schmidt, a geriatric nurse practitioner who toured medical facilities in Moscow: “Their status and pay are more like our blue-collar workers, even though they require about the same amount of training as the American doctor… medical practice is stereotyped as a caring vocation ‘naturally suited‘ to women, [which puts it at] a second-class level in the Soviet psyche.”
What this illustrates perfectly is this — women are not devalued in the job market because women’s work is seen to have little value. It is the other way round. Women’s work is devalued in the job market because women are seen to have little value. This means that anything a woman does, be it childcare, teaching, or doctoring, or rocket science, will be seen to be of less value simply because it is done mainly by women. It isn’t that women choose jobs that are in lower-paid industries, it is that any industry that women dominate automatically becomes less respected and less well-paid.
So it is not enough for us to demand access to traditionally male-dominated fields. Yes, we need to stop holding women back in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, and yes, we need to allow more women to take an interest in, and succeed in business and politics. But far more than that, we need to change the culture that imbues us with a sense of the inferiority of women, that tells us, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, that anything a woman does is obviously easy, requires little effort, and is of minimal value to society.
Perceptions of the reality influence the way we act upon reality, social psychologists and sociologists have taught us since the 60’s of the past century. So, if any of my perspectives changed in result of involvement in dialogue with colleagues from different countries about street-based youth work, henceforth probably this will influence the way I will act upon the reality of street-based you work. Actually, my actions have changed but I argue that my perceptions didn’t changed generally. I think that the changes were domain-specific, namely: about the differences and similarities on goals and contexts of street-based youth work. That said, the main perceptions/perspectives that I changed was on the awareness of how different institutional, legal and political contexts can frame social street work practices differently, limiting or potentiating them.
Curiosity ignited within me, and I followed him, weaving through the throngs of market-goers, my senses electrified by anticipation. As we reached the outskirts of the market, the magic worker turned to face me, his eyes meeting mine in perfect synchrony. It was as if he had been expecting my arrival, as if our meeting was destined to occur. Without uttering a single word, he reached into his robe and produced a deck of weathered tarot cards. He motioned for me to choose a card, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. With trembling hands, I hesitantly plucked a card from the deck. As I turned it over, my eyes widened in disbelief. The card depicted an image that uncannily mirrored my innermost thoughts and fears. It was as if the magic worker had tapped into the depths of my soul, revealing hidden truths I myself was yet to uncover. In a soft, melodic voice, he began to recount the story it revealed, each word resonating deep within me. Time seemed to stand still as the magic worker wove tales of love, loss, and self-discovery. His words carried the weight of ages, as if they were whispered by the ancient gods themselves. With every sentence, I felt a transformation occur within me, a profound shift in perception that opened my eyes to the wonders of the world. As the magic worker concluded his narration, he handed me the card, now imbued with a new meaning, a new purpose. In that moment, I understood that his magic lay not in trickery or illusion, but in the power to awaken and inspire. He was a conduit for the mysteries of the universe, a guide to the hidden realms of the human psyche. With gratitude in my heart, I bid farewell to the magic worker, his presence forever etched in my memory. I left the market that day with a newfound sense of wonder and purpose, believing in the possibility of magic and the limitless potential that resides within us all. The encounter had reminded me that sometimes, the most enchanting magic lies not in the supernatural, but in the profound connections we forge with others and the transformative power of the human spirit..
Reviews for "The Power of Intention: Understanding the Mindset of a Magic Worker"
- John - 2/5 stars - I found "I Perceived a Magic Worker" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters lacked depth and development. The writing style was also mundane and did not engage me as a reader. Overall, I expected more from this book and was disappointed with the lackluster storytelling.
- Sarah - 1/5 stars - I disliked everything about "I Perceived a Magic Worker". The plot was confusing and seemed to lack direction. The characters were unrealistic and their actions did not make sense. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and hard to follow. I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
- David - 2/5 stars - "I Perceived a Magic Worker" failed to capture my attention. The story felt disjointed and the pacing was too slow. The characters were forgettable and I struggled to develop any connection or interest in them. The book lacked the magic and excitement that the title promised. Overall, I found it to be a mediocre read.