I found this article randomly while on Google. I have to say there are a lot of pros and cons with this article (as one can point out just by reading the comments readers have left.) I do have to agree on one thing, she is right, that masculine Working Class culture is dead. Along with the death of this socio-economic group. At one time a Labourer could support a family, now he's de-valued and his job shipped off to China or India or Mexico.
I have to disagree with her over generalization that Working Class Men can't find work in the Service Industry because they are Working Class. It's kind of laughable that a article critiquing classism would be so classist.
I grew up in a very masculine Working Class culture. My Father and his friends believe in sticking up for themselves but wouldn't be "rude" about it or not have "patience" for people, as the writer suggestions. Nor are the racist, sexist or homophobic. Calling them "under-educated" is laughable as well. My Father never went to University but can dissemble a plane and re-build it again. His friends are also the ones who served in the military, fixed your toilets and built your luxury homes. I'm sure they would love to hear the perspective of some journalist whose Daddy owned an Air-Conditioning company.
A better article: The Case for Working With Your Hands
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This is the biggest problem I have with (basically all) journalists and lawmakers and members of the legal establishment. Anyone who might get a callus on their hands or actually work up a sweat when they earn a living is seen by these elitist snobs as some knuckle dragging brute.
I'm completely sick of this attitude. If we in the trades are so uneducated and lowbrow then feel free *NOT* to call any of us when you want your water heater replaced or new sod laid in your front yard.
Years ago, in Trail, B C., the local high school ran two vocational streams: vocational tech for the boys who were heading to apprentices on the 'Hill', and vocational academic for the boys who were heading to university, most often engineering but for other courses as well. A skilled tradesman should enjoy as much respect as a skilled white collar worker or professional. Certainly there is a manual skills element to their work which is generally absent in the professions (except for a surgeon or a veterinarian or like work), but a really good tradesman employs a mental skill set which is not generally recognized and seriously underappreciated.
Mike Holmes is working on this.
http://www.worldskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=578&Itemid=126
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