Reflections on Intelligence in the Workplace and the Schoolhouse

People are often stereotyped by the kind of job that they hold. We think that if you are in a certain profession that speaks to the intelligence of the individual. If you are in a high tech profession it is assumed that you are a very intelligent person whereas if you are in a profession that requires more manual labor it is thought that you use more muscle than brain power. People in low paying jobs are often given menial tasks to perform because they are deemed not capable of handling much more."The school one attends and the work one does are powerful social markers, perhaps the most powerful, by which we make judgments about a person's intelligence." We often put limitations on people without fully realizing one's potential. If we do not strive to learn more we are falling behind. We, as a society need to always push forward and broaden our horizons through learning. "If we think that whole categories of people-identified by class, by occupation-are not that bright, then we reinforce social separations and cripple our ability to talk across our current cultural divides." We, as a nation have been working towards equal rights rights for people for decades. If we do not give everyone the same opportunity to succeed and advance this country will not progress.