We call workers ‘essential’ – but is that just referring to the work, not the people?
By this point in the coronavirus pandemic, you’ve probably heard a lot about “essential workers.” They’re the people working in hospitals and grocery stores, on farms and in meatpacking plants. They’re keeping public transit, shipping and utilities running.
But is “essential” describing the workers themselves? Or only the work they do?
Right now, many don’t feel like they’re being treated like they’re essential, and workers at Amazon, Walmart and other companies have organized strikes to protest unsafe working conditions.
There seems to be a disconnect between how some low-wage workers are being described and what they’re experiencing on the ground.
As an expert in sociolinguistics, I can’t stress enough the importance of framing – how we emphasize perspectives and priorities through o...