The Cleaning Woman/Labor Relations #4

This poem really hit me in the gut. It reminded me of how little people are appreciated unless they do something amazing and noticeable. However, I’m sure if the cleaning lady had decided to just not show up and quit without two week’s notice, the woman doctor would have noticed and been very irritated. The doctor did not value the cleaning woman and what she did for the clinic.

Personally, I run my own business, and last summer I was so excited because I had six employees hired. But I took them for granted, not appreciating what they did for me. Eventually all but one left me, and I was stuck and forced to do their jobs as well as my own, and I hated it at first. It cause me to have a very rough summer, trying to replace them as well as get everything else done. I took them for granted, like in the poem, when I should have appreciated them and what they did for me.

This concept of taking advantage of people can be seen on a global level as well. Think of all of the third world countries that make the products that we use every day. Or the farmers that provide us with food, the bus driver that gets you to class on time, or the garbage man. All of these people work to make our lives easier, however many people see them as worthess or disposable, but are they really? The answer is no. Each individual plays an important part in the efficiency of our lives and culture, and without them, chaos would be a sure thing.

I believe this passage also displays the effects of power. The woman doctor was the boss of the cleaning woman, and because of this, she held the power. She had the ability to make choices and sacrifices, and choose whom to tell them to. Because no one was above her on the power pole, she had no pressure or anyone to keep her power in check. She was irresponsible and impassionate towards those that were way below her stature. This theme is displayed all over from those with power as previously discussed, and many times the power is not held in balance. It is a shame that power can be abused in a way that hurts and discourages others.