The moral dangers of dirty work

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Vox Media Podcast Network

Society & Culture, News, Politics, News Commentary, Philosophy

4.6 • 10.8K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2022

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Vox’s Jamil Smith talks with journalist and author Eyal Press about "dirty work" — the jobs Americans do that, as Press explains, can lead workers to perform morally compromising activities unwittingly. They discuss examples of this kind of work (drone pilots, meat packers, prison aides), talk about its relation to the term "essential workers" that gained prominence during the pandemic, and explain how certain jobs highlight the disparities of class, race, and gender in American society. Host: Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith), Senior Correspondent, Vox Guest: Eyal Press (@EyalPress), author; journalist References: Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America by Eyal Press (FSG; 2021) "What does it mean to take America's 'jobs of last resort'?" by Jamil Smith (Vox; Apr. 22) Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday; 2021) The Social Network, dir. David Fincher (2010) The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1906) The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (1952) The Civilizing Process by Norbert Elias (1939) "Good People and Dirty Work" by Everett C. Hughes (Social Problems, vol. 10 (1); 1962) The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantú (Riverhead; 2019) "Inside the Massive Jail that Doubles as Chicago's Largest Mental Health Facility" by Lili Holzer-Glier (Vera Institute of Justice; 2016) Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by: Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Patrick Boyd Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	In a world where change is accelerating, how do we find meaning, comfort, and connection?
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0:27.1	available on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. Support for this podcast comes from Equifax.
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1:14.7	Can a healthy society really have people doing dirty work?
1:18.6	I'm Jamil Smith and I'm your host for Vox Conversations.
1:36.2	Dirty work is one of those phrases which loses its meaning the more that we use it.
1:41.2	It might conjure in your mind that steely Dan hit about a secret affair or Tony soprano singing it
1:46.9	in the car. I don't want to do your dirty work no more. I'm a fool to do your dirty work.
1:56.6	We're more likely to hear the words dirty work from anchors on political shows.
2:00.6	Now we're learning of another teachers union doing the dirty work for Democrats.
2:05.6	Just something to say to the people doing the dirty work so we can feel better about not doing
2:10.0	it ourselves. Sports announcers use it to refer to the relatively thankless work of offensive
	...

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