American Careers in the Terkels Working Essay -- Studs Terkel

America: The People behind the Professions A little girl dreams of a white wedding with white doves flying over the ceremony and the fairy-tale honeymoon. Only then to come home to the yellow house in the country, with the white picket fence included. Everyone has daydreamed about their future and having the â€Å"perfect† house, with the â€Å"perfect† car and the â€Å"perfect† marriage- everyone wants to live the â€Å"American Dream†. There are many people that believe that the â€Å"American Dream† is a concept that they are entitled to and expected to live. Then, there are those who believe that you should use the opportunities that America offers as a stepping stone to earn and create your own â€Å"American dream†. However, as time goes on the mainstream idea of â€Å"living the American Dream† has changed. This change is mostly due to the ever-changing economy, professions, and expectations of the American people. Throughout the book Working, by Studs Terkel, we meet many diverse groups of people to discover the people behind the jobs that allows American society to operate and how their choice of a career path has changed their lives. Here is "Mike Lefervre" , a 37-year-old steel worker. Lefervre talks down on intellectuals, and complains that they degrade people who actually work. A moment later, however, he contradicts and degrades himself: "A mule, an old mule, that's the way I feel." He is hurt and irritated that his son "lacks respect† but yet, "I want my kid to be a America: The People behind the Professions 3 snob... I want him to tell me he's not gonna be like me." Lefervre wants his son to have the life he never had and was unable to provide for him. This is a common thought for many parents in America. He talks about the anger... ...eer, musician, carpenter, street cleaner, farmer, office clerk, mechanic, housewife, stenographer, union organizer, bartender, truck driver... All of 'em! I'm the 'et cetera' and the 'And-so-forth' who do the work... I am... America." America: The People behind the Professions 5 We all know that most people hate their jobs. Work is seen as something we have to do, and very lucky few seem to find a job that we enjoy. How we feel about work, and what we do for a living, in many ways helps to define who we are and who we are going to become. Having seen actual people share their perspectives and view points on â€Å"working for a living† helps us see ourselves and rethink our future. Overall, Studs Terkel helps flash- back into America's history and see the changes that America ans it’s people have gone through.