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How do I find a job that doesn't support capitalism?
I wish to read all day but am intelligent. I also enjoy travel. What job will i not be a slave to capitalism and can be intuitively human with emotions. #travel #jobs #job
6 answers
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Desiree’s Answer
Sadly, I cannot think of any perfect job for a true anarchist who refuses to acknowledge/recognize any authority. Most work places have some structure, certain policies & rules, and a degree of hierarchy that requires a basic level of respect - even if given only in exchange for a paycheck/medical coverage and other benefits. If this degree of capitalism is too distasteful, you can always donate your salary to charity! If you are a committed anarchist, that also means no government work. (Which rules out becoming a librarian in a public library or a social worker, which might otherwise be good fits.)
If you can be flexible on the anarchy, here's an outside-the-box thought: become an forensic/financial/compliance auditor. You must read tons of documents, can travel from client to client -- all around the world, if you like -- and (internally) expose all their "non-compliance" on a company by company basis. It would allow you to call out (internally) the faults of the capitalists. However, to be fair, the end result would be strengthening the client company and making it a more compliant/efficient capitalist. And you would have to be a solid employee to your auditing firm, too!
Other options outside of a "capitalist" company or government that you may wish to consider:
-work for a non-profit/charity. Perhaps you could read/process/project manage charitable grant applications. But most charities rely on the donations of capitalists.
-work for YOURSELF (but, consider if that makes YOU the capitalist...)
Much of what you seem to be talking about amounts to how you approach your job and your work-life balance. Many jobs will have an intense period, where some extra hours are expected. Depending on the job, this could be once a month, once a quarter, once a year or whatever. Really understanding the expectations of the job is key. If you can understand and accept those more frantic times as part of the job requirements, then you can adjust to it -- e.g., schedule a yoga session or plan a holiday after that period. Being an emotional human is part of most jobs -- whether it's called sales(wo)manship, bedside manner, client counseling or something else. The trick is to balance the emotional and professional, and to find a profession that is compatible with the level of emotion you are comfortable expressing.
Consider your commitment to anarchy and how flexible you can be in the pursuit of a career.
Identify your objections to captialism as it relates to your career search (e.g., long hours? too many layers of management?) to be able to find a better professional fit.
Identify how you want to express your human emotion professionally - are you interested in helping others occupationally? do you just want to be treated with human dignity in your job?? do you seek emotional fulfilment in your work??? Understanding this can help narrow your career search.
If you can be flexible on the anarchy, here's an outside-the-box thought: become an forensic/financial/compliance auditor. You must read tons of documents, can travel from client to client -- all around the world, if you like -- and (internally) expose all their "non-compliance" on a company by company basis. It would allow you to call out (internally) the faults of the capitalists. However, to be fair, the end result would be strengthening the client company and making it a more compliant/efficient capitalist. And you would have to be a solid employee to your auditing firm, too!
Other options outside of a "capitalist" company or government that you may wish to consider:
-work for a non-profit/charity. Perhaps you could read/process/project manage charitable grant applications. But most charities rely on the donations of capitalists.
-work for YOURSELF (but, consider if that makes YOU the capitalist...)
Much of what you seem to be talking about amounts to how you approach your job and your work-life balance. Many jobs will have an intense period, where some extra hours are expected. Depending on the job, this could be once a month, once a quarter, once a year or whatever. Really understanding the expectations of the job is key. If you can understand and accept those more frantic times as part of the job requirements, then you can adjust to it -- e.g., schedule a yoga session or plan a holiday after that period. Being an emotional human is part of most jobs -- whether it's called sales(wo)manship, bedside manner, client counseling or something else. The trick is to balance the emotional and professional, and to find a profession that is compatible with the level of emotion you are comfortable expressing.
Desiree recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Dexter’s Answer
Hi Elena,
Have you thought about traveling to a country that does not participate in capitalism and see if you like your experience better? Off the top of my head, North Korea and Cuba are countries that are not capitalistic. You can also travel to and find jobs in places that are less capitalistic than the U.S. (such as Scandinavia) and see what you find.
I feel that I used to feel like how you do now ("down with capitalism!"), but with more reading and learning, I've accepted capitalism as a system that helps the few over many, but one that also benefits the society in other ways (motivation for society, class mobility, etc). I'm not sure if I were the king of the world, if I'd adopt another system, as every system has up/down sides, and thus, someone is always getting the short end of the stick. Realistically, if I could wish upon a model, it'd be "cuddly capitalism" or Nordic Model (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_model).
I hope you continue your education and find your unique voice. One thing I've learned over my lifetime is that every time I have a moment of hubris and think I have it figured out, I learn that I really don't.
--
Dexter
Have you thought about traveling to a country that does not participate in capitalism and see if you like your experience better? Off the top of my head, North Korea and Cuba are countries that are not capitalistic. You can also travel to and find jobs in places that are less capitalistic than the U.S. (such as Scandinavia) and see what you find.
I feel that I used to feel like how you do now ("down with capitalism!"), but with more reading and learning, I've accepted capitalism as a system that helps the few over many, but one that also benefits the society in other ways (motivation for society, class mobility, etc). I'm not sure if I were the king of the world, if I'd adopt another system, as every system has up/down sides, and thus, someone is always getting the short end of the stick. Realistically, if I could wish upon a model, it'd be "cuddly capitalism" or Nordic Model (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_model).
I hope you continue your education and find your unique voice. One thing I've learned over my lifetime is that every time I have a moment of hubris and think I have it figured out, I learn that I really don't.
--
Dexter
Gratitude is the most important attitude.
Doc Frick
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Hello Elena,
I am not sure you understand the definition of anarchy: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/anarchist
The qualities you state you possess; intelligence, intuition, and a sense of not wanting to be owned by capitalism are all wonderful. There are many career opportunities for independent and smart people.
My first recommendation is that you volunteer in some giving capacity both locally and globally. This will broaden your views and allow you to express you best assets. You may have to wait until the pandemic dies down, so start volunteering locally first. https://access.wa.gov/topics/communityservices/volunteering.html
Anarchy is a political statement and almost always embraces violent means to end government. Anti-capitalism can be a way of life. It is possible to live without contributing to that system in a non-violent, kind, and giving way.
I hope these answers help you consider the future you want to live.
Sue
I am not sure you understand the definition of anarchy: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/anarchist
The qualities you state you possess; intelligence, intuition, and a sense of not wanting to be owned by capitalism are all wonderful. There are many career opportunities for independent and smart people.
My first recommendation is that you volunteer in some giving capacity both locally and globally. This will broaden your views and allow you to express you best assets. You may have to wait until the pandemic dies down, so start volunteering locally first. https://access.wa.gov/topics/communityservices/volunteering.html
Anarchy is a political statement and almost always embraces violent means to end government. Anti-capitalism can be a way of life. It is possible to live without contributing to that system in a non-violent, kind, and giving way.
I hope these answers help you consider the future you want to live.
Sue
Updated
Sanober’s Answer
Hi Elena,
I empathize with your desire to not be a slave to capitalism. It is difficult to find a rewarding career in these times. I would suggest looking into careers that utilize your strengths such as creativity and reading, if you enjoy writing that would be a cool field to try. Many self-driven careers are less focused on a hierarchy and allow employees to utilize their skills in the best way they can. I believe you will find you way by trial and error :)
Best of luck to you!
Sanober
I empathize with your desire to not be a slave to capitalism. It is difficult to find a rewarding career in these times. I would suggest looking into careers that utilize your strengths such as creativity and reading, if you enjoy writing that would be a cool field to try. Many self-driven careers are less focused on a hierarchy and allow employees to utilize their skills in the best way they can. I believe you will find you way by trial and error :)
Best of luck to you!
Sanober
Updated
Delaney’s Answer
Hi Elena,
Great question! I totally can understand where your head is at. If you want to stay in the US, which as you know is a very capitalist society, I would say focus on working for or even starting your own business that actively works to combat the effects of capitalism (poverty, inequality, hunger, etc). It may not be the perfect solution but I think it would help put your mind at ease and make you feel like you’re doing something worthwhile. Best of luck!
Great question! I totally can understand where your head is at. If you want to stay in the US, which as you know is a very capitalist society, I would say focus on working for or even starting your own business that actively works to combat the effects of capitalism (poverty, inequality, hunger, etc). It may not be the perfect solution but I think it would help put your mind at ease and make you feel like you’re doing something worthwhile. Best of luck!
Updated
S’s Answer
Hi Elena,
I would like to start by saying it was inappropriate of the mod/admin to edit your question removing references to anarchy. Doing so, as well as the responses here, shows a complete misunderstanding of the ideology of anarchy. I will answer, as an anticapitalist who is read on anarchy, myself, with this in mind.
To find a job that supports anarchy you will have to look locally among your community. Your first goal should be to find a job that can support you, with the intent of moving on when the time is right - it is impossible to be an advocate for anticapitalism and anarchy while you are hungry. You will need to build a cohort or at least a few allegiances among local anarchists and anticapitalists. Finally, you will need to isolate those skills you can offer or are most interested in, and use the trappings of capitalism to build yourself into your anarchist life you are looking for.
That last part is the most contentious among leftists. However, Marx and Lenin both understood that the transition to a socialist state of society is not in conflict with capitalism, but instead a development coming *from* capitalist building. You will need to bite the bullet and take a job that does not support your ideology but does support your income, and then build and agitate among your coworkers. When the time comes, you can shape your workplace into something more supporting you ideologically.
The long and short of it is, to live a life of anticapitalism is a lot of hard work, and this is made more difficult if you are neurodivergent or marginalized. You will not be able to do so by looking in job listings for anticapitalist jobs. You won't find Indeed listings of anarchist-owned businesses, but do understand, anarchist-owned businesses do exist.
Your priority should be finding out *where* the anticapitalists are in your community. The opposite of capitalism is community, for capitalism is ultimately an ideology that breaks communities down into faceless numbers. Look into community projects advertised in the news, paper, and on social medias. Look for social media friends who are anticapitalist. If there is community garden, social workers, 2-1-1 or 4-1-1 type call centers, or activism, you will find your anticapitalist cohort among these people. Be wary of charity work and homeless shelters - it is fine to work for them, but the majority of these are run by liberal progressive enterprises who see charity as an end, rather than a failure of the system itself. You may find anarchists and anticapitalists among the volunteers there, but the bosses will think like capitalists.
Find your community, and be wary of those who dress in the language you like without understanding or believing it
I would like to start by saying it was inappropriate of the mod/admin to edit your question removing references to anarchy. Doing so, as well as the responses here, shows a complete misunderstanding of the ideology of anarchy. I will answer, as an anticapitalist who is read on anarchy, myself, with this in mind.
To find a job that supports anarchy you will have to look locally among your community. Your first goal should be to find a job that can support you, with the intent of moving on when the time is right - it is impossible to be an advocate for anticapitalism and anarchy while you are hungry. You will need to build a cohort or at least a few allegiances among local anarchists and anticapitalists. Finally, you will need to isolate those skills you can offer or are most interested in, and use the trappings of capitalism to build yourself into your anarchist life you are looking for.
That last part is the most contentious among leftists. However, Marx and Lenin both understood that the transition to a socialist state of society is not in conflict with capitalism, but instead a development coming *from* capitalist building. You will need to bite the bullet and take a job that does not support your ideology but does support your income, and then build and agitate among your coworkers. When the time comes, you can shape your workplace into something more supporting you ideologically.
The long and short of it is, to live a life of anticapitalism is a lot of hard work, and this is made more difficult if you are neurodivergent or marginalized. You will not be able to do so by looking in job listings for anticapitalist jobs. You won't find Indeed listings of anarchist-owned businesses, but do understand, anarchist-owned businesses do exist.
Your priority should be finding out *where* the anticapitalists are in your community. The opposite of capitalism is community, for capitalism is ultimately an ideology that breaks communities down into faceless numbers. Look into community projects advertised in the news, paper, and on social medias. Look for social media friends who are anticapitalist. If there is community garden, social workers, 2-1-1 or 4-1-1 type call centers, or activism, you will find your anticapitalist cohort among these people. Be wary of charity work and homeless shelters - it is fine to work for them, but the majority of these are run by liberal progressive enterprises who see charity as an end, rather than a failure of the system itself. You may find anarchists and anticapitalists among the volunteers there, but the bosses will think like capitalists.
S recommends the following next steps:
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