I thought this was an honest piece. First we have to overcome the impostor syndrome, then we feel lucky to be acknowledged as the real thing, then we wonder how to pay the bills or guilty that we couldn’t pay them on our own. Of course we would have fewer bills to pay on our own.
And once all that has been figured out, we are left wondering how, and how much, we are valued. But this part is not related to how much we earn per se; it is how much more (or less) other people earn.
To close the loop – it is definitely tied to “culture.” In some countries, people are valued for being highly educated, well-read, fluent in multiple languages, even if not highly paid. In others, these attributes are only valued if translated into higher earning capacity, if not earnings per se.
So within medicine, in the US, pediatricians earn less than cardiothoracic surgeons I am told it is all because of supply and demand. There are fewer CT surgeons than pediatricians. On the other hand fewer people need CT surgery than need pediatricians so one would think supply and demand are still matched. But training to become a CT surgeon takes longer, so that limits supply. Also in the US there is a distinction between cognitive specialties and procedural specialties and those who carry out procedures get paid more. There is a huge shortage of psychiatrists but that has not lifted us off the bottom rung. Then, some psychiatrists earn more than others but it is not for working harder or with more challenging patient populations.
I often think about why professional athletes are paid so much. Because they work so hard and risk their bodies and have short careers? But so do soldiers. I guess because they have more talent? But the talent is used only to create spectacles for millions of less talented people.
So, as you conclude, our only hope is to decouple “value” from “wealth.” Value is about feeling good about what we do and having others feeling good about what we do; going to bed at night (or in the morning after a night shift) in the knowledge that one has done a good day’s (or night’s) work and made the world a slightly better place.
You know the old saying that nobody ever said on her deathbed that she wished she had spent more time doing housework. I suspect nobody said she wished she had made more money, either… or at least, I hope that is true.
in 1949, the Germans voted on the "Lastenausgleichsgesetz" - a law determining how to share among the citizenry the cost of the lost war. Basically, the haves relinquished 50% of their wealth in favour of the have nots. Great principle - well implemented, for all were unhappy with the outcome. This is the paradox of choice. It does not yield platonic "perfection." It yields a livable burden-sharing - yet remains a burden.
Comparing burdens can be invidious. In the end, however, we donkeys all adjust to the burden.
With noth men and women occupying a variety of jobs and becoming double income earners..or sharing the process of wage earnings,
Both have to share work on the domestic front as well as jobs out of home...legal,bankwork ,etc. Do the men expect to be paid for domestic chores ,looking after kids or elderly at home,cooking and cleaning?I m sure neither genders need validation...the change is slow but is happening.
I thought this was an honest piece. First we have to overcome the impostor syndrome, then we feel lucky to be acknowledged as the real thing, then we wonder how to pay the bills or guilty that we couldn’t pay them on our own. Of course we would have fewer bills to pay on our own.
And once all that has been figured out, we are left wondering how, and how much, we are valued. But this part is not related to how much we earn per se; it is how much more (or less) other people earn.
To close the loop – it is definitely tied to “culture.” In some countries, people are valued for being highly educated, well-read, fluent in multiple languages, even if not highly paid. In others, these attributes are only valued if translated into higher earning capacity, if not earnings per se.
So within medicine, in the US, pediatricians earn less than cardiothoracic surgeons I am told it is all because of supply and demand. There are fewer CT surgeons than pediatricians. On the other hand fewer people need CT surgery than need pediatricians so one would think supply and demand are still matched. But training to become a CT surgeon takes longer, so that limits supply. Also in the US there is a distinction between cognitive specialties and procedural specialties and those who carry out procedures get paid more. There is a huge shortage of psychiatrists but that has not lifted us off the bottom rung. Then, some psychiatrists earn more than others but it is not for working harder or with more challenging patient populations.
I often think about why professional athletes are paid so much. Because they work so hard and risk their bodies and have short careers? But so do soldiers. I guess because they have more talent? But the talent is used only to create spectacles for millions of less talented people.
So, as you conclude, our only hope is to decouple “value” from “wealth.” Value is about feeling good about what we do and having others feeling good about what we do; going to bed at night (or in the morning after a night shift) in the knowledge that one has done a good day’s (or night’s) work and made the world a slightly better place.
You know the old saying that nobody ever said on her deathbed that she wished she had spent more time doing housework. I suspect nobody said she wished she had made more money, either… or at least, I hope that is true.
This is such a fabulous, thoughtful response. Thanks.
Dear Pallavi,
in 1949, the Germans voted on the "Lastenausgleichsgesetz" - a law determining how to share among the citizenry the cost of the lost war. Basically, the haves relinquished 50% of their wealth in favour of the have nots. Great principle - well implemented, for all were unhappy with the outcome. This is the paradox of choice. It does not yield platonic "perfection." It yields a livable burden-sharing - yet remains a burden.
Comparing burdens can be invidious. In the end, however, we donkeys all adjust to the burden.
With noth men and women occupying a variety of jobs and becoming double income earners..or sharing the process of wage earnings,
Both have to share work on the domestic front as well as jobs out of home...legal,bankwork ,etc. Do the men expect to be paid for domestic chores ,looking after kids or elderly at home,cooking and cleaning?I m sure neither genders need validation...the change is slow but is happening.