This may seem like an obvious statement, but it’s time that we, as a society, reevaluate our priorities because we’re facing a crisis. Frankly, this country is in the midst of several crises, but I want to focus on one in particular: what and who we value. I’m talking about jobs and those who work in these jobs. Professional athletes’ annual salaries amount to somewhere around 3 million dollars. On the other hand, teachers get paid an average of $45,000, many working for much less, while social workers earn about $43,000.
This isn’t to say that pro athletes aren’t a worthy, important part of our society because they are. They provide us with a form of entertainment, which we all need. But, should they really be earning 50 times more than that of someone who’s educating future generations or fighting for people’s basic human rights and overall wellbeing?
Seeing as I’m studying to become a social worker, let’s take a look at how underappreciated social workers truly are. All social workers are required to get their Bachelor’s degree, but many go on to obtain their Master’s because most jobs in any field of social work are looking for someone with an advanced degree. After going through and paying for 6+ years of university education, we enter a field in which we can expect to earn less than $50,000 annually. Of course, we’re not in this profession for the money; we’re in it in the hopes of helping people and changing lives. But, shouldn’t the people who are working in a field that’s so selfless earn enough to live comfortably, no matter what?
Now, let’s talk about one of the biggest problems that social workers face: being overworked. Social work isn’t for everyone. It can be a brutal career, which is why there’s so much turnover and therefore, an ever growing need for social workers. Social workers are exceeding the maximum number of cases that’s recommended and, sometimes physically possible, for a caseload. There aren’t enough social workers to handle the constantly growing number of people in need of a social worker, so the existing social workers are overworked and not seeing any pay increases.
This is only one example of a career in which the workers are being underpaid and undervalued, but this is the case for several professions. While people are usually choosing these fields because it’s their passion, rather than for the money, that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve a salary that’s truly representative of their work. The simple reality is that money is essential in order to survive in our society, but we should be able to follow our passions without having to sacrifice our financial stability. We need to reevaluate our values and priorities because we shouldn’t live in a world where someone who has multiple degrees, works 40+ hours a week, and is shaping present and future generations is barely scraping by. We have the power to fix this damaged system, but first, we must recognize that there’s a problem that needs fixing.
