Robots are coming for human jobs. It’s no surprise. However, the automation revolution is much more than just an economic problem, argues Laurie Penny in Wired.
“It is a cultural problem, an identity problem, and—critically—a gender problem,” she writes.
The robots are mostly eliminating jobs in farm and factory labor, construction and haulage—in other words, blue-collar jobs typically performed by men.
“Millions of men around the world are staring into the lacquered teeth of obsolescence, terrified of losing not only their security but also their source of meaning and dignity in a world that tells them that if they’re not rich, they’d better be doing something quintessentially manly for money. Otherwise they’re about as much use as a wooden coach-and-four on the freeway.”
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Men must change their mindset and be willing to take on jobs in the so-called “pink-collar” industry, she says.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Laurie Penny argue about automation?
Writing in Wired, Laurie Penny argued that the automation revolution is much more than an economic problem. Penny described it as a cultural problem, an identity problem and, critically, a gender problem.
Which jobs are robots mostly eliminating?
According to the article, robots are mostly eliminating jobs in farm and factory labour, construction and haulage, which are blue-collar jobs typically performed by men.
Why is automation described as a gender problem?
Because the jobs being automated are mostly done by men, Penny argued that millions of men risk losing not only their security but also their source of meaning and dignity in a culture that expects them to do something conventionally manly for money.
What does Penny suggest men should do?
Penny says men must change their mindset and be willing to take on jobs in the so-called pink-collar industry, rather than relying on blue-collar work that robots are increasingly taking over.
Why does losing these jobs affect men's identity?
Penny argued that many men have been told by society that, if they are not rich, they had better be doing something quintessentially manly for money, so losing that work threatens their sense of worth as well as their income.