Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Haley Scholars (Group 1) Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "In Retail"

[Haley Reading Groups Spring 2022] 

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "In Retail" offers a story about the draining and apparent soul-crushing experience of working in a mall, in a clothing store.  

The narrator reveals that the job can seem so depressing that it could lead some people to harm themselves.  

What aspect of the story most interested you -- the experiences of the specific retail clerk, the overall dilemma of working in retail, the idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others, or something else? Why? 

74 comments:

Alexis S. said...

The aspect of the story that interested me most was that some jobs are more fulfilling than others. This aspect was interesting because I believe that every job is important as society wouldn't be able to function without them, and I think that society tends to forget that. The judgment that others place on what they view to be "unfulfilling" is harsh and people need to realize that certain systems such as retail stores would not be in place if it weren't for the employees, and that the employees are human too and it is good to be kind.

- Alexis S.

Linda H. said...

I was most interested in the dilemma of working in retail. The thing about retail work is that it isn't important or usually fulfilling. Working as hard as you can only results in more money for the CEOs and executives which almost never trickles down to the worker.

Samantha A. said...

The aspect of the story that interested me the most was the overall dilemma of working in retail as the author depicted the hardships retail workers go through accurately. Retail workers deal with a variety of customers with different attitudes towards them, such as sassiness, rudeness, sarcasm, and overall disrespect. The various sly, rude comments and being underappreciated can bring many retail workers' self-esteem down as the cruel work environment some retail workers go through affects their mental health negatively and to the point where they feel helpless and done with the world.

-Samantha A.

Mark S Lewis said...

What interested me the most was the lack of sympathy from anyone in the story but the protagonist. As if she's the only caring person in the world. I was surprised that the store didn't even close after an employee died there.

Arielle S. said...

What interested me the most was the fact that no one has any type of emotion. Also, seeing as an employee passed away in the store and it remained open it was very off-putting.

LaTrina Brown said...

The overall dilemma of working in retail is what interested me the most. I have past experience with working in retail, it can be overwhelming. I liked how the author depicted working in retail because in reality it is a lot more than what people think. A lot of retail workers aren't appreciated for their work and customers can be extremely rude for no reason

Alleson Huntspon said...

The thing that interested me most would be the hardships of working in retail. The fact that I work in retail and see first hand the hardships is a lot. I think it's awful that many people have jobs in retail that beat them up mentally and they have to continue to work them in order to make a living. It's disturbing how people treat retail workers. People must take into consideration that these employees are people and have feelings too. - Alleson Huntspon

William Akpan said...

The aspect of the story that most interested me was the overall struggle of working in retail. There was no singular issue, but an array of problems faced by those working in retail. These problems are also worsened by the lack of concern from both the store and the customers.

-Will A.

Kayla Person said...

The idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others is what interested me the most. I don’t agree with that idea because what one may find fulfilling, another one may not. It’s highly subjective.

-Kayla P.

Paris S. said...

An aspect of the story that interested me the most was the overall dilemma of working in retail. Working in retail can be a very difficult task, especially when dealing with rude customers and possibly bad working conditions. These issue of working in retail can arise from people not having any consideration of the wellbeing of retail workers.

Zaria Hankins said...

The dilemma of working in retail is the aspect of the story that I was most interested in while reading. I think that the story does a good job of highlighting how difficult retail can be. I think an important part of the text is when it reads “...even in nothing jobs like this you need to think of ways you might really be helping somebody, or you could end up like Lucy”. I think that this line highlights that even though we all know that retail workers are essential, they aren't always treated or made to feel this way. I think that the way the job is described in this story helps to show how unappreciated retail workers are and how much they go through on a daily basis.

Kelsey H said...

The aspect of the story that interested me the most was the overall dilemma of working in retail. I say this because retail workers deal with everything to the time they clock in until the time they clock. They deal with everyone’s attitudes and energy all while working minimum wage. I have experienced this plenty of times. It feels as though you do so much work and don’t get any recognition for it.

Nyla W. said...

What interested me the most about this story is how the retail clerk looks for happiness even though she's living in the rat race. It seems the people like Lucy, and the many others who have taken their lives working in retail, don't seem to yet know their purpose and the problems in their lives seem insurmountable. I like how the retail clerk came to realize that she isn't the only one helping the Spanish speaking older women, but they seem to have a mutualistic relationship. She showed us how something others may deem as meniscal, or a chore can in fact be fulfilling to someone else. I feel as though almost any job can be fulfilling but it depends on the person and their individual interests. The retail clerk in this story is doing a job she doesn't enjoy to provide for her daughter, but every day she still looks for meaning and a little spark of happiness.

Daniel Allison said...

The most interesting part of the story to me is the truth about how unfulfilling retail work truly is. Unless you are running your own store, no one truly wants to work for a big retail store. Everyone just does it out of necessity. You never really see happy retail workers. Most of them have really carefree attitudes, the story emphasizes that by making the workers depressed.

-Daniel Allison

Tamia Flowers said...

The lack of emotion is the aspect of the story that I found most intriguing. It was death in this book and it seemed like no one cared.

Nijay Spellman said...

A couple of things interested me in the story, for one was the fact that the employees in the mall were referring to suicide as "Lucy". Yes, it is disrespectful to do that, but I guess in a way it is to remind people how disliking your job so much can affect you. Another thing that interested me the most was of course the talk about how an individual's job can affect them. I feel this is necessary to talk about as we further our education because if you are not happy in your field of study, find something that suits you and makes you happy, so it does not make you feel like you are working.

Nijay S.

Chaianna Curry said...

The aspect of the story that interested me the most was the idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others. Having previously worked in retail I know that the environment can be draining if it is not something you have a passion for. Meanwhile, career jobs that a person has spent years studying for would be much more satisfying. I think the concept of a “fulfilling” job is unique to every individual.
-Chai Curry

Chelsea Cooper said...

I was more surprised than interested in the fact that multiple people passed while on the clock. It was spoken about as if this was an exteremly normal activity. When one of the workers named the people that passed at the stores and said it would happen again. that was shocking. The way they used Lucy"s name as if she was and object or a subject was wrong.

-Chelsea Cooper

Jalen White said...

I think the narrator's need to find motivation in this workplace environment was most interesting to me. Her interaction with the Spanish customer was so heartbreaking, because that small interaction is the one thing that might've prevented her from being just like Lucy. It really makes you think about what we put our retail workers through on a daily basis due to our capitalist society.

Jalen White.

Tiana J said...

The aspect of the story that interested me most was how some jobs could be more fulfilling than others. I think people are quick to judge or look down upon other people, but the truth is even jobs that may seem the most simple all have a trickle-down effect on how we function as a society and therefore is equally as important and fulfilling as any other job.
Tiana J

Brooke Harris said...

What is interesting to me is how people treat employees in occupations similar to retail and there is still little to any compensation because it is 'expected' to deal with unruly people. Retail and other jobs like fast food, or healthcare are what people consider essential but people within these jobs are treated as if they are expendable. Retail and fast-food workers can deal with some of the most disrespectful people, under disrespectful circumstances, with unsatisfactory paychecks, and are expected to do nothing even when physically harassed. Healthcare employees deal with this too and are expected to give compassion as most people come to the hospital under unstable condition whether physical or mental. Overall, we take advantage of these people whose job is to somewhat take care, and cater to our needs and opinions, yet there is no compensation for this such as extra time off or more pay. I think that it is mind blowing, because this behavior isn't excused like this in other job settings, so why do we deem this acceptable until actually talked about?
-Brooke Harris

Brooke Harris said...

What is interesting to me is how people treat employees in occupations similar to retail and there is still little to any compensation because it is 'expected' to deal with unruly people. Retail and other jobs like fast food, or healthcare are what people consider essential but people within these jobs are treated as if they are expendable. Retail and fast-food workers can deal with some of the most disrespectful people, under disrespectful circumstances, with unsatisfactory paychecks, and are expected to do nothing even when physically harassed. Healthcare employees deal with this too and are expected to give compassion as most people come to the hospital under unstable condition whether physical or mental. Overall, we take advantage of these people whose job is to somewhat take care, and cater to our needs and opinions, yet there is no compensation for this such as extra time off or more pay. I think that it is mind blowing, because this behavior isn't excused like this in other job settings, so why do we deem this acceptable until actually talked about?
-Brooke Harris

Taiye J said...

This story seemed very much like reality, all except Lucy killing herself. I used to work at a mall in a clothing store and I lasted only a month because, I felt that my position/job and what I was doing was very pointless. I felt as if there was no point for me to fold clothes and walk around a store aimlessly fake smiling at customers. I did not feel as if I was making any difference. Within this story the narrator has a little bit of a different view than I did. They make it aware that their work is not fun and is depressing but, they try to find the good and happiness within the smallest of things. For example, by helping the older Spanish woman, the main character felt needed and found a little happiness within the woman. The main character gives the idea that happiness is everything and as long as you have just a little bit of it, everything will be ok.

Melanie Millsap said...

The most interesting is the dilemma of working in retail. Retail can be emotionally rewarding for some and very stressful for others. Retail may not be a dream job for some but it gives the narrator a way to take care of their child's needs. The story does a good job of describing working in retail. Sometime you have to find something in the day or job that make it worth it or you could be a "Lucy".

Kiya R. said...

The aspect of this story that interested me the most was the specific experiences of the retail clerk. In comparison to the dark descriptions of Lucy's death, the retail clerk that had rather positive experiences with helping the lady in the store, which was a stark contrast to Lucy's experience. This interested me because the retail clerk seemed to be the only one who was not insensitive and the only one who found purpose in their job as a retail clerk, even if they had to work to find it.

McKenna C. said...

What is most interesting and disturbing about this story is the fact that Lucy is having her name used and disrespected because of her taking her own life. It's also sad to think that the mall had so many victims of suicide and nothing was updated or closed when these incidents took place, things just continued on as if nothing happened.

McKenna C.

Keaira C. said...

There were honestly many aspects of the concepts in this story that were interesting and thought provoking for me. I think the most significant thing that stuck with me though was this perspective of working, and how certain jobs are more fulfilling, and rewarding than others. I think this story's concept actually parallels very easily to working people today. Of course, every job is ranked or valued within a hierarchy to society. Some jobs are viewed as more rewarding and beneficial, if they consist of servicing others, or depending on the pay scale, or etc. Also, I think the jobs that consist of doing things for other people can also get ranked on the importance of the people that the job serves, but overall, jobs get valued for many reasons. This story's concept was very interesting and made me think about how every job is actually equally important, so that society can function as it does, but this is something that society tends to forget.

SylveA’sha Radley said...

Man I remember the days I worked in a retail clothing store. I worked at JCPenney at for about 3 years before I got my current job. Let me tell you I hated it, because you get pushed so hard just to receive little pay. That job made me so unhappy I kinda felt like Lucy some days. I did work in a mall and you most definitely have to dig up happiness, because everything that’s going on around you will most definitely consume you. You put up with so much mental and verbal abuse working in a clothing store. A person can only take so much. Just like in this chapter, you had those customers that really made your day and made your job seem not so bad after all. Those to me were the the best moments. You have to be really interested in what your doing like some people’s dream job is to work in a clothing store, other people might just be working there to make ends meet, or to gain work experience so they can get the job they really want. The whole aspect of the story is really relatable to me, because I’ve been through a lot of things that these people have went through in this chapter.

Elizabeth Kyande said...

The most exciting aspect to me regarding retail would be the overall dilemma. When people come to shop, most people could care less about the workers who are present at the moment. Nine times out of ten we go there to shop and that's it. We fail to take a step back and be mindful of the workers yet they go through a lot. Working with people can be really stressful and as a society, we should keep in mind that without the workers the stores would shut down therefore no more shopping.

Kahleea Washington said...

The most interesting aspect of this story is the dilemma of working in retail. Working in a job where you have to deal with a variety of people can be very stressful. The lack of respect people have for others who work low-wage jobs can lead to traumatizing experiences. This story does a great job reflecting the reality of a career in retail.

Kahleea W

Raven Ginger said...

The experiences of the specific retail clerk interested me the most because we see that he knows he is the best, but he also knows this is not his forever job and he lets it be known to management. Which is good for him to do because when you know a job is not your forever job it makes it more fun and you can enjoy it while it lasts.
-Raven Ginger

Noah Phillips said...

As I was reading I was most interested in the the way jobs had different purposes allowing one to have more meaning than others. Even though people can easily judge someone based off of their job they fail to remember that each and every job plays a role in society. Retail workers can go through a lot, and this story reminds us of that.

Kai Steward said...

I think the aspect that interested me the most was the dilemma of working in retail. Retail if it’s not the career that you want and you are there purely to make money it that can make any job hard. The customer service is what can make or break your day or career in retail. I think when you have a child or someone to care over it can make things feel worth it and I think the author did a good job depicting that struggle between needing a job but having an difficult time.


- Kai Steward

Jasmyne R. said...

The aspect of this story that interested me the most was how there weren't any emotions or respect expressed after the death of the lady that fell off the rail. Immediately afterwards, kids were joking and pretending like they were about to fall off the rail as well and didn't show any remorse. It was just disgusting how everyone just went about their day and didn't even acknowledge that someone just lost their life.

Walter Carroll said...

The thing that was most interesting to me was the true explanation of working on retail. I currently work in retail and can completely understand the stress and disdain that was expressed in this story about working in retail. Although I do not know anyone that has committed suicide like Lucy, I do know plenty of people that have literally broken down in tears from retail stress.

-Walter Carroll

Richard Haley said...

what stuck out to me most was the fact that an employee died in the store and the store stayed open and business kept going on like nothing happened i guess it shows that the world really does keep revolving even if u do die.

Richard Haley

Anonymous said...

The aspect that some jobs are more fulfilling than others is what interested me the most. I have worked retail and felt that my job was pointless. I felt that I wasn't making a significant difference. At the time my peers had better jobs and spoke of the excitement they experienced. The only way I felt good about myself was by being genuinely nice and caring to customers. It was the only way that I felt that I had made an impact (even if it was small).

Jacqueline Smith

Dasmin W. said...

The most interesting part of the story was the idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others. I can relate to the character's pain and struggles so much as she described her responsibilities because I worked in the food industry. I never got to the point of Lucy, but the story is very realistic, and I can see how someone who is depressed and not doing something they love would go down a dark path. I left the food industry because I was not satisfied. The next job I get will be doing something I love to do!

- Dasmin W.

Jamie T said...

What interested me most was how I could relate to both the dilemma of working in retail and how some jobs are considered more fulfilling. In my retail experience it was more of a job to make sure I wasn’t being talked to rudely or inappropriately by customers. So many things are out of your control while working retail yet we would receive all of the backlash and mistreatment as employees, specifically cashiers. Currently I work in healthcare as a nurse tech and although that position could be considered more fulfilling, the work is more draining and even though it can be rewarding in some ways, it simply isn’t enough, it is only a societal and moral fulfillment in healthcare currently, other than that we are tired, so does the fulfillment even matter?

Jania G said...

The part that interested me the most was that some jobs are more fulfilling than others. I think all jobs in society today are useful and serve their purpose and without them everything would be a mess.

David Bankole said...

I was most interested in the dilemma of working in retail. The thing about retail work is that it isn't important or usually fulfilling. Working as hard as you can only results in more money for the CEOs and executives which almost never trickles down to the worker.

Phoenix Johnson said...

What I loved about the story is about how your job plays a big role in your mental health. I have read articles about their job making them feel like they have a purpose in life or can make then depressed because they hate their job because of the environment, the mental strength needed, or just because it's not their dream job.

K Carter said...

The idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others interested me the most about the story. This relates so much to the real world because picking a career can be very stressful when trying to decide what will be fulfilling versus what will be the best career financially.

Byron Coulter said...

The aspect of the story that had me the most interested was the dilemma of working in retail. Having worked in retail before, specifically being a person that dealt with customers 24/7, I can relate. So now every time I walk into a place like The Home Depot or Best Buy, I make sure I don't give any employee's a hard time and try to help if I can. As a customer you never know what these retail workers have to go through on the daily.

Philip Bowen said...

The part that was most interesting about this story was that certain jobs don't actually care about you. The fact that the job continue on like nothing happen when the lady die showed that retail jobs sometimes don't care about their employees. I really felt bad because jobs do have a big affect on individuals mental state.

- Philip Bowen

Unknown said...

What interested me was the acknowledgment of fulfilling and "purposeful" jobs and the weight that that goal places on many people's mental health. I find myself curious about how people delineate fulfilling jobs and what that means to them. Does their idea of it reflect their own passions or societal pressure?

I'Lysa Walker

Kiarra Chark said...

I think the most interesting aspect of the story is the overall dilemma of working in retail because I know what it is like to work in retail. I hate the idea that the customer is always right because most of the time the customer is wrong. Also, when working in retail you often don’t make enough money for the number of things you have to deal with. I think retail workers should be paid a lot more.

Kiarra Chark

Zion Chatman said...

The most interesting part of the story is the depiction of working in a retail environment. I have worked in retail a lot, and it can be very hard go find joy while being at work. A quote I really related to is when she said "if you wanna be happy here in the Prominent Mall you have to dig happiness up, 'cause it's not gonna just walk up to you and ask how you're doing." This is so true, especially in a retail environment.

- Zion Chatman

Anonymous said...

What I found most interesting was the overall dilemma working in retail. At 16, my first job was in a retail store and it was mind blowing to me how the general public can treat underpaid retail workers with such aggression. I also see this within my major, I am in pharmacy school and the divide between hospital and community pharmacies has been made even more obvious with the COVID-19 pandemic and the boom of vaccinations in community retail pharmacies.

Fatima Bashir

Ehriana . C said...

What I found most interesting was the fact that the work environment was so negative. I feel like it was an accurate representation of some work environments especially in retail.

-Ehriana C.

Erin Myers said...

Josephine Kanyi said...
The part that stood out to me is the thought process that some jobs are more fulfilling than others. I think in recent years, society assesses fulfillment based on what the financial compensation at a job is. The writer talks about retail being a job that's draining and soul-crushing, something that could be said for some of the top-paying jobs but the only reason those jobs receive leniency in the critique is that they pay more and are assumed to contribute more to society.

April 14, 2022 at 12:22 AM
(Originally posted to https://www.culturalfront.org/2022/04/haley-scholars-group-2-nana-kwame-adjei.html)

Erin Westfall said...

Lexis Lewis said...
What interests me the most is that some jobs are more fulfilling than others. I can relate to this way of thinking, when working in retail it seems like a repeated cycle of not fulfilling what I wanted to do in life. But having a job that gives me that notification makes me want to go to work every day, and be in a great mood. I feel as if this relates to when people say, certain lines of work are jobs and others are careers.
Lexis L.

April 15, 2022 at 11:59 PM
(Originally posted to https://www.culturalfront.org/2022/04/haley-scholars-group-2-nana-kwame-adjei.html)

Erin Westfall said...

Meghan N.:

The topic that interested me the most is the retail aspect. From my personal experience, working in retail hasn't been the most pleasant experience and I would rather work for myself. It's amazing to have a job that no one can fire you from which is why people should go after their dreams and goals.

Erin Westfall said...

Ashanti Y.:

What interested me the most was the lack of sympathy and fact that none of the others show any type of emotion. Like the employee dying and no one really taking the time to sympathize, very unsettling.

Ebonie Byrd said...

I think this topic is interesting because it talks about the some of the difficulties retail worker’s experience. I think that retail can often be a monotonous job that can cause boredom. Therefore I think it is important for people. To look at the positive aspects of working certain jobs.
Ebonie Byrd

Ta'mya Cummings said...

The aspect that interested me the most was the overall dilemma in working in retail. I have never worked in retail before and for someone looking from the outside in, the things they go through is very surprising and distasteful. Retail workers, or even any worker, should be respected for doing their job, especially since they must set a certain standard for themselves every time they step into work. It can be mentally draining to have people disrespect you every day while you are continuing to give them respect.

Nyah C. said...

What was most interesting to me was the dilemma of working in retail. As someone who has only had jobs in customer service, I understand how disrespectfully they can be treated. People tend to have the mindset that the workers are only there to serve them, as if they do not have feelings of their own. It has led to me being more patient when I get annoyed, because I know what it's like to be in their position.

Erin Myers said...

Breana B.:

What interested me most about the story was the overall dilemma of working in retail. The author did a great job of detailing the challenge's that retail workers go through. I worked retail for almost a year, and it was hard. It was a never-ending cycle of stress and work. Retail workers are so underappreciated and underpaid.

Anonymous said...

My favorite part of the story is when the narrator made the point that people should focus more on how to make the job great. If you focus too much on the bad, you will miss out on the good. In this instance it is the Spanish lady that came looking for a red shirt. The narrator was able to find joy in helping others. She knew her purpose and did not stray away from that.

Alexis H.

Erin Myers said...

Kalonji R.:

The idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others is the aspect that interested me the most in
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "In Retail". What you do to earn a living comprises such a large portion of your life, and this notion is something that has been on my radar for many years now and is why I'm on the path I'm on now. Someone once said that if you make a career out of something that you'd do for free then you'll never work a day in your life. If you are spending most of your doing something that isn't fulfilling or brings you any joy then it can result in you seeing viewing your life as less valuable like what we saw with Lucy in this story. Another theme that stuck out to me is that how you treat people matters. Being kind and courteous by default could make a world's difference to someone who's in a position that may not be the best on paper. An example of this is a quote from the end of the story, "She'll say, "Gracias gracias", a few more times and tap my shoulder in parting, and I'll say " De nada, de nada", which will be a lie because she is everything". As English speakers, we tend to translate de nada to "you're welcome", which isn't necessarily wrong but in Spanish "de nada" literally means with nothing (in return). To the retail worker, the reason why he refers to his response of de nada as a lie is because that sweet old lady literally made his day by making his otherwise unfulfilling job the opposite of that because he/ she got to experience the satisfaction of genuinely making someone's day better and helping them.

Janielle F. said...

The thing that stood out to me the most was the overall dilemma of working in retail. While I have never worked in retail, I have worked in food service and when exchanging stories with friends who have, I have found that there are a lot of parallels. They're both very joyless jobs that people look down upon despite their necessity in our society. I've been treated horribly for things that I can't control and there isn't much that I can do other than take it and try not to internalize it.

Tiffany Ellison said...

I would say that the realistic-ness of it all interested me the most. Just because I have seen places not close down when things like that happen. And for the co-worker's of Lucy to have to just keep going is absolutely crazy. But it is all so realistic.

-Tiffany E.

Cheyenne Carpenter said...

The most interesting part of the story was how accurately working in retail was described. I currently work in retail now and this story is very relatable, especially the rude customers. I like how the author focuses on the negatives, but also highlights the positives and emphasizes that a job is what you make it.

Erin Myers said...

Geonel M.:

What interests me the most is the fallacious idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others. I think the concept of fulfillment varies and is highly subjective. For example, one may argue that being a nurse is fulfilling because on a daily basis, nurses get to help people get better. However, another person would argue that being a nurse is very challenging or depressing because of all the endless nights of work. I have met people in retail that absolutely love what they do. So, suggesting that one job is more fulfilling that another one is fallacious.

Carah F. said...

The most interesting part of this story was the idea that you have to dig up happiness in retail. As someone who has worked in retail for the past 4 years, I can confirm. It sucks. Customers suck. Management sucks. Co-workers suck. Corporate sucks. When you finally find a team of people you work well with, it's only temporary. You truly do have to dig up or create your own sense of enjoyment.

Darius Campbell said...

What I found most interesting was the fact that there were so many people like Lucy, and there were probably going to be more in the future. It seems like this is a huge problem in the story but nobody seems to do anything to change or fix this problem. Pretty much everyone in the story did not care what happened to Lucy which leads me to believe that people have accepted this fate of retail workers. When Lucy died, everyone went about their day and the mall stayed opened so people could get their sales, which clearly mattered more to them.

-Darius C

Charles R said...

I find the story interesting and one part particular in the story about working in retail environment. I have worked in retail for two weeks, I wanted to do something over the summer but like worker he said it was hard to find joy at work. I remember sometimes but now I have much better appreciation for retail workers. also, when the worker Lucy, who died and everyone working continued is a fitting example, workers are expected to continue even in moments when they experience difficult. The main character said she liked when the customers were older because they were a lot nicer than the young ones and loved it when older Spanish ladies came in store. The main character said she felt helpful but also she could practice her Spanish and it lifted her mood speaking to the Spanish speaking lady.


Charles R said...

I find the story interesting and one part particular in the story about working in retail environment. I have worked in retail for two weeks, I wanted to do something over the summer but like worker he said it was hard to find joy at work. I remember sometimes but now I have much better appreciation for retail workers. also, when the worker Lucy, who died and everyone working continued is a fitting example, workers are expected to continue even in moments when they experience difficult. The main character said she liked when the customers were older because they were a lot nicer than the young ones and loved it when older Spanish ladies came in store. The main character said she felt helpful but also she could practice her Spanish and it lifted her mood speaking to the Spanish speaking lady.


Torian henry said...

I find the concept of more jobs being more fulfilling than others extremely intriguing because it is our reality in this day and age. With things like wage gaps, workers benefits, retirement, and unions the workforce has a bleak outlook of what jobs will bring adequate in a highly segregative society.

Erin Myers said...

Charles R.:

I find the story interesting and one part particular in the story about working in retail environment. I have worked in retail for two weeks, I wanted to do something over the summer but like worker he said it was hard to find joy at work. I remember sometimes but now I have much better appreciation for retail workers. also, when the worker Lucy, who died and everyone working continued is a fitting example, workers are expected to continue even in moments when they experience difficult. The main character said she liked when the customers were older because they were a lot nicer than the young ones and loved it when older Spanish ladies came in store. The main character said she felt helpful but also she could practice her Spanish and it lifted her mood speaking to the Spanish speaking lady.

Oyeyemi Efunkoya said...

The aspect of the story that gave me most interest is the experiences of the specific the idea that some jobs are more fulfilling than others because think about it people going to different types of jobs we don't really get to do the same thing some people's own are harder than others which can also cause people to look down and downgarde them who are working lower -wage it can cause a traumatizing experience.

Charles R said...

The interesting aspect of the story how jobs can be fulfilling and at the same time unfulfilling for each employee. I worked in retail for a brief stint, retail can be stressful and overwhelming. I di not see a long term future in for myself but however retail workers are unappreciated many times and until your experience first hand. The author does great showing the lack of sympathy from anyone in the story but the protagonist. Also when the Lucy, the employee died, the store continue and never stopped to reflect on their dead colleague. Great example how we corporations main focus is profit and lack sympathy for their workers.

Mahlik G said...

The dilemma of working in retail was interesting to me! Being that I've worked in retail, I know that it can be varyed. I really feel sad for those adults where retail is their full-time/permanent gig. I couldn't imagine that being my reality. A lot of people don't see retail as valuable HOWEVER it is.

Anonymous said...

What interested me the most about this story is the idea of some jobs being more fulfilling than others. I think it is possible to absolutely love the job you work but I also see the other side where it may not be what you expected or imagined it would be. Corporations need to be more considerate about the work environment they are creating. Too often people at jobs feel unappreciated so companies lose great workers or they lose motivation and have poor work ethic eventually. Having more sympathy and patience in the workplace may give the environment a lighter feel.

- Rotrisha Epps