Former $50,000 a year part-time lecturer says industry exploits workers, most of whom women. (soldiers, school)

[lovecrowds]

Women in their own words: Why we're not working - LA Times

Wish, I could just show up and talk for an hour a couple of times a week and have $50,000 extra just for that.

She said she didn't know if she would have a job until just before the semester started. I wonder what she would show up to talk about a couple of hours a day, a few times a week.

She said no real performance evaluations. I guess she let the cat of the bag that the instructors can talk about what they want as they say sip their latte's.

Obviously, it's sad that she ended up getting MS and has not been able to return to lecturing. She paid into the system, so she rightfully deserves her SSDI and Medicare.

Women in their own words: Why we're not working - LA Times

I also think that there are some major age discrimination issues towards older women that needs to addressed. But I don't see how showing up, talking a few hours a week for $50,000 a year is exploitation.

[don1945]

So, are you for the speaker or against, I can't tell.

[bcattwood]

Originally Posted by don1945

So, are you for the speaker or against, I can't tell.

I am going to go with against, since he characterized "always working numerous jobs simultaneously to cobble together full-time work" and "I often taught at three to four colleges simultaneously" as getting paid $50k to just talk a few hours a week.

[Avondalist]

I don't agree with the OP's characterization of college lecturers, especially part-timers and adjuncts, as living high on the hog.

That's one of the most miserable careers out there, and I do sympathize somewhat with the workers who are clearly exploited by the college cartel. There are people who spend their entire 20s in school and then bounce from gig to gig for the rest of their career, never cracking $50k.

However the more biting criticism is that these supposed learned scholars seemingly never found out about how awful trying to become a college professor is. Oceans of digital ink have been spilled laying out the pathetic chances that someone who gets a graduate degree will become a professor. And yet every year the incoming class soldiers on...

Moveover the fact that these workers are disproportionately women is expected given that women disproportionately:
1) Go to college
2) Go to graduate school
3) Major in those subjects such as the humanities and the social sciences that have abysmal job prospects

Just say NO! to graduate school.

[glamatomic]

I just read the article... I could be wrong but the way I interpreted it, she had to work at multiple colleges (teaching at each twice a week) in order to earn the $50,000. She was essentially working full time hours.

Don't forget all of the lesson planning and preparation in addition to grading papers and exams that she was likely doing on her own time.