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Antiwork

Employment is offered but is it “gainful”?

I think a subtle shift in language could help shift people's understanding of our lot. I know half of us would rather not work at all but in the meantime…. it could be useful to shift kind of back to speaking about whether or not employment is gainful. We are “seeking gainful employment” or “gainful work.” Obviously not everyone can afford to just not work but we need to try to take back the notion that employment isn't worthwhile unless it can be considered gainful. There is so much debate around “minimum wage” and a “living wage.” It's all about the bare minimum. In the meantime they act like offering any employment at all is an opportunity even if it sucks. It's right up the alley of responding to “nobody wants to work.” I feel kind of late to the party. But along that line of thinking. We don't want…


I think a subtle shift in language could help shift people's understanding of our lot. I know half of us would rather not work at all but in the meantime…. it could be useful to shift kind of back to speaking about whether or not employment is gainful. We are “seeking gainful employment” or “gainful work.” Obviously not everyone can afford to just not work but we need to try to take back the notion that employment isn't worthwhile unless it can be considered gainful. There is so much debate around “minimum wage” and a “living wage.” It's all about the bare minimum. In the meantime they act like offering any employment at all is an opportunity even if it sucks. It's right up the alley of responding to “nobody wants to work.” I feel kind of late to the party. But along that line of thinking. We don't want “work” or “jobs” but if “gainful employment” is offered as in there is genuinely something to gain through employment, then maybe we might be interested.

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