At no time has the interdependence of the human race been clearer to me. Right now as the world fights a pandemic and the United States enters a financial crisis our reliance on one another is clear.
The pandemic has brought the world together to overcome a common challenge- COVID:19. While the US has been a little less than cooperative, countries have been working to help one another by sharing their experiences, doctors, and scientific research. Within the US the work of essential employees has allowed life to continue. Medical staff have been putting their lives on the line to treat affected people while communities have rallied to donate gowns, gloves, and masks.
Jobs that are typically overlooked have received attention and gratitude as the pandemic has illustrated how much we depend on them. As those with flashy or more appealing jobs have been stuck at home, others such as farmers, those who work in packaging and shipping, and grocery store staff have been clocking in. While it is normally easy to overlook these employees and remain apathetic to their wages and working conditions, the spotlight now shines on them as heroes. Our society is dependent on them to keep store shelves stocked and people fed. Similarly as international imports and exports slow with COVID, the imported items we typically take for granted are now much more appreciated. While our interdependence has not changed our perspective has.
The economic situation in the US also illustrates how deeply interdependent we are. With nonessential businesses closed it has become crystal clear. Small businesses are struggling without their customers while consumers must find new ways to navigate life without all of the usual resources. However, communities are coming together and supporting one another. I think our nature of interdependence creates relationships and bonds so that even though the need for support is no longer mutual- ie a hairdresser needs clients for income but right now clients don’t NEED a haircut- we still provide for one another.
I hope once the pandemic passes our appreciation for essential workers remains and our interdependence is more visible than before.
An excellent example of how this current health and economic crisis underscores our interdependence. Your question is an important one, will the added value conferred to essential workers today stay on as a cultural attribute moving forward? Their concrete value to our basic life systems (food distribution, health and safety) is stark reality yet they are overwhelmingly underpaid, will societies take this into consideration? We can ask how such important work has become so reduced in status ? Our service-oriented consumer outlook fueled by capitalism cannot be helping matters.
The complex relationship of ‘help’ be it vounteering, or a career choice and those ‘being helped’ is explored in today’s readings about volunteer tourism. Who is offering help and with which expectations in return? Who is receiving help and were they involved in conceiving of how that help should be administered?