There is one big difference. The current lifestyle enclaves are freely chosen by their inhabitants, whereas the ethnic ghettoes are usually not a matter of personal choice. The requirement of dormitory living for the Harvey Girls and early Mill Girls was certainly not aligned with any freedom of choice. While the women we have studied created and dwelled in communities forged by economic considerations (earning a living), the ethnic communities have usually been established as a sanctuary that preserves culture and protects the enclaves’ residents. This was the case with the French-speaking Canadian immigrants who formed the Little Canada ghettos in Maine. It is a matter of survival (or at least shelter) given that the broader community is enforcing discriminatory practices and sometimes fostering violence against the new immigrants.
It is not just a matter of economics for the Mill and Harvey Girls. Socio-economic lines have also played a major role. On one side of the Line are those in the majority who rule the Gold and have the luxury of joining a lifestyle enclave. They can choose their route to Worth. On the other side of the Line are those in the minority required to follow the Golden Rule. There are very few routes to Worth for them. The Golden Rule includes the requirement that these “other people” stay in their separate ghetto and “behave themselves” (conforming to norms of the dominant community). Gold can be used by those who rule to pay for discriminatory public polices (formal and informal) and for the authority to enforce these policies.
Conclusions
We have returned to the matter of control as a primary determinant of Worth. Having emphasized the connection between repressive Control and Worth in my first essay, I turn in the next (fourth) essay to another more positive side of control. This side concerns ways to gain control of the bridge between Personal and Collective Worth. We gain control and occupy this bridge when we care deeply about that which deserves our care. We become generative in our caring about other people. Generativity is engaged when we work on behalf of our community’s heritage and sustainability. We find Personal Worth as servants of the greater good. We participate in the generation of Collective Worth when we work alongside our neighbors in filling sandbags that prevent damage (physical, psychological, and societal). So, stay tuned. Our exploration of Worth is just beginning!
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