Yesterday I had a long chat with three men in the café, and I would like to share some of the things we talked about since I think it can be of general interest.
They really have a difficult situation. The times are difficult for everybody, and especially when you have no recent experience and papers to show to employers.
But it isn’t all the fault of the society. They also have to get into themselves and reflect on their own attitudes.
During our conversation they showed a pride that forbid them taking „women’s jobs“ as they describe it. This is a big problem for them I think, because many jobs here really are jobs for both women and men, as we don’t discriminate. But their cultural heritage is strong, and I wonder how to get them to distance themselves from such views without coming in conflict with their own cultural heritage…Or is it perhaps impossible?
I am also concerned about the consequenses of being without work for years. What is such a long term unemployment doing to people? And how does the society look upon them as the years go by without them finding jobs? And their educated children, that will easily will find jobs, how are they going to look upon their fathers?
Women’s and men’s jobs – different ones?
Photo: Slagheap