Jane Addams (1860 – 1935), Response to Maxed Out
Similar to Marx, Jane Addams also sees the importance of collective work. In fact, she labels it “the distinguishing discovery of our time” (Lengermann and Niebrugge, “Class Notes Jane Addams,” Page 1). People come together in numerous ways, however, including socially. Addams outlined a number of ways people interact with each other, and how they justify their actions in doing so. These societal standards or modes of individual behavior are referred to as ethics. When combining collective work and ethics, Addams’ true focus is best summarized as “the ongoing adjustment between the organization of production and the organization of ethical codes governing social interaction” (Lengermann and Niebrugge, “Class Notes Jane Addams,” Page 1).
One exemplar of ethics is the social ethic. The social ethic refers to a person’s ability to feel “orientation to right relationship with others,” but based on the assumption that “each individual actor identifies with the large, heterogeneous, even anonymous community of which he or she is a part” (Lengermann and Niebrugge, “Class Notes Jane Addams,” Page 4). The social ethic requires people to possess a desire for heterogeneous culture and a willingness to act in order to make it a reality. As such, this is a particularly important concept in the realm of lending and borrowing, predominantly with regard to the notion of responsibility. Just as important, though, is the neighborly relation, or the means by which Addams insists a point of view must be obtained in order for a person to fully comprehend the situation and act accordingly. The idea of the neighborly relation is summarized by Pat and Jill as “the condition in which the sociologist attempts to understand a social world not as an outside observer but as a participant living side by side with the people whose lives are her or his concern” (Lengermann and Niebrugge, “Class Notes Jane Addams,” Page 1).
Other posts on sociology and Maxed Out:
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Introduction
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Jane Addams Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Karl Marx Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Africana Theorists Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Conclusion
Beginning with Addams’ notion of the neighborly relation, one need not look too hard at Maxed Out to see a perfect example. Through the film, several young men and a young lady, all employees of a debt-purchasing, pioneer company, talk about their jobs as debt collectors. They describe the thrill or rush that comes as a result of successfully collecting. Addams might be proud that these people are able to find joy in their collective endeavor to collect debt, however she wouldn’t be particularly fond of the means by which they go about getting it. These debt collectors call not only the debtor, but that person’s family, friends, and co-workers, and harass each one in an attempt to embarrass the debtor to enough of an extent that they will finally be guilted into beginning to pay their bill.
There is an inconsistency with this method of collecting, though. The debt collectors are for the most part not people who are in debt themselves. And in fact, most of them probably don’t understand how it feels to have massive debt riding on their shoulders. Yet, they call up the poor Proletarians and make their life hell. An older person’s chemotherapy could be the cause of their indebtedness, and yet despite their clear inability to pay, they may receive obscene, threatening phone calls at all hours of the day. From Addams’ perspective, the debt collectors shouldn’t harass or point fingers until they themselves are in the same position. In order to fulfill the neighborly relation, both the debtor and the collector must be on the same level. Most debt collectors might be inclined to go a bit easier with future clients if they truly understand what circumstances each person faces.
On the other hand, though, it could be suggested that debtors who face this terrible harassment deserve it. Addams’ social ethic cites that one’s circle of caring must expand to take into account others in the community (Lengermann and Niebrugge, “Class Notes Jane Addams,” Page 4). Excepting those people who, for reasons of crisis, are forced to enter into debt, people that voluntarily enter debt or practice irresponsible spending habits are in a sense negatively affecting the community around them. Once someone enters debt, they place a heavy burden not only on themselves, but on their family, friends, and co-workers. Stress, depression, and any number of other psychological phenomena can also plague an indebted person, creating even greater grief on the society as a whole. Thus a seemingly moot point is reached with Addams, for a person should not have to endure relentless taunting, but simultaneously should not consciously plunge into debt.
Other posts on sociology and Maxed Out:
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Introduction
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Jane Addams Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Karl Marx Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Africana Theorists Response
Sociological Implications of Maxed Out, Conclusion
Works Cited
Lengermann, Patricia and Jill Niebrugge-Brantley. 2005. “Class Notes The Africana Theorists, Spring 2008 American University, Washington D.C.” (https://blackboard.american.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_43370_1%26url%3D).
---. 2005. “Class Notes Karl Marx, Spring 2008 American University, Washington D.C.” (https://blackboard.american.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_43370_1%26url%3D).
---. 2005. “Class Notes Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Spring 2008 American University, Washington D.C.” (https://blackboard.american.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_43370_1%26url%3D).
---. 2005. “Class Notes Jane Addams, Spring 2008 American University, Washington D.C.” (https://blackboard.american.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_ 2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_43370_1%26url%3D).
Maxed Out. Dir. James Scurlock. Perf. Mark Mumma, Ronald Reagan. DVD. Magnolia, 2005.
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