Man, #VocationalAwe is NOT about "people taking pride in their work" it's about structures that insist that certain kinds of work (esp gendered work in libraries, education, care giving, health care) are more important under any circumstances than the workers themselves

Are your feelings hurt because this phenom has been 1) accurately described and 2) the policies you are supporting seem to go along with that description? That does not invalidate the construct. In fact, it kind of makes additional cases for it.

#VocationalAwe is not a "double edged sword" it is a description of the constructs used to oppress library workers when they attempt to assert that they have rights. "Don't you care for your community" when library workers shelter at home is straight-up VA.

I read somewhere else someone (sorry can't remember who) made the point that library workers ARE ALSO community members and it's super hard to "serve the community" while they are sick or even dead because oh hey it's a global pandemic

Some of the reasons libraries are classed "essential" are also BAD. Like, essential for internet access? That's because we refuse to treat internet as a public utility. Essential place for homeless? That's because we refuse to house the homeless.

That twisted thing where people in charge of workers accuse workers of not caring enough about their work or the people who benefit from their work, when said workers are trying to avoid DYING IN A PANDEMIC? #VocationalAwe

Don't like it? Well then, don't do it.

This rant brought to you by continued shitty takes from people in library leadership positions on the pieces in LJ and elsewhere that are basically begging for workplace safety and a baseline level of care for workers' lives in this emergency

If you are supervising people and suggest that their reasonable fear for their lives in going in to do high-contact work like happens in libraries is a "lack of pride in their work" fuck entirely off. They are not the problem here.

and you White library leaders who continue to shrug your shoulders and say "I just don't get it" about an at this point foundational concept fully described by a Black librarian and scholar? You are telling on yourselves.

Haven't read the original article yet? you really should http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/