Comments on: Revisiting The Organization Man

By: Sarah Bjornstedt

Sarah Bjornstedt — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:57:17 +0000

“He argued that the elevation of “belongingness” over genius and leadership would impede both individual growth and satisfaction and the progress of society and business.” This explains it all. This all connects to the theme that we all want to belong somewhere, even if it is not our ideal situation. This is the exact same as today though, as we still all want to belong to something, even if we criticize it at some point. And no, this blog relates to men and women, as we also want to belong in things.

By: Sir G

Sir G — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:36:36 +0000

I have to agree with the writer of this post for two reasons: it was well prepared for the audience and I agree with the context of the writing. One thing I would slightly disagree is the fact that individualism affects all men. From my own experience, now-a-day, there are a lot of men who have a pretty good balance between their individualism and their conformity, although for the most majority, men tend to be more on the individual side.
I really like that that this topic brought out a lot of sides and throughout, it remained neutral. When it was sharing about religious groups, it wasn’t forcing someone to do this or that, but rather it was encouraging every man to do something. The approach was more like, “get involved in something that you are interested in whether it’s a church group, organization, club, marathons, etc. It doesn’t matter what it is, just get involved in something that you like.” I also like that it talked about a balance in between the individualism and conformity. You have to have both in your life and only doing so you will contribute to the bigger picture of your conscious.
I agree a lot with the context because I experienced a lot of this in my life. I m a Christian and for the past two years I started becoming involved a lot in our church, specifically with our youth group. I have noticed that only when you step out of your comfort zone and actually begin doing something that you start realizing how much you can get done. Since I started getting involved with our youth group, we organized Summer and Winter Camps, Valentine parties for the girls, the band for our worship group, and many smaller youth activities. These are projects that I look forward doing and being involved with. I realized had it not been for me stepping it up and getting involved, I would never have experienced what I did.

By: Brooke C.

Brooke C. — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:22:46 +0000

I don’t think this passage stressed enough about the thin line between individuality and conformity. It takes a strong, yet driven man to conform and a man who knows what he needs in order to get what he deserves. Which pushes his individuality. So in a sense, a organization man focuses not fully on an organization or union but uses it in a manner to achieve what he desires. And a man who know how to please those of the organization while further his wants and needs will result in conquering the cooperate ladder. The line in this passage, “Don’t get so caught up with your group that you come to believe that it is always true that what is good for the group is good for the individual,” I believe is written incorrectly. It should value more the ideas of , “Allow your desires and needs to push your individual success as well as organization success.” I say this because men need a feeling of either they are needed to stay, or staying involved betters themselves by achieving either their desires or needs. In this case I believe strongly in the line “If you’re hard to replace, or you know you could be hired somewhere else very easily, you’ll be freer to retain your individuality.” Because once you master the ability to balance conformity and individuality you have become the ultimate organization man and other will notice you better yourself and the community. AND this passage refers to women not only men.

By: Elkhound

Elkhound — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:44:36 +0000

Anent the VFW, I have heard Viet Nam veterans tell of how when they went to join the VFW, they were made to feel unwelcome. I heard variants of being told by WW II veterans, “We beat the Japs & the Krauts, the two most powerful war-machines on the planet—and you got your butts whipped by a bunch of barefoot gooks in cotton pyjamas!” (Sorry for the offensive language–I’m just quoting.) If that sort of thing was as widespread as anecdotal evidence shows, no wonder the VFW is hurting for members as the WWII and Korea generation dies off.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:01:46 +0000

I think the big issue here is time. In the 1950′s the work day was 8 hours, and wives were home taking care of children so Dad could come in have a bite kiss the kids and run out to lodge or whatever group he belonged to. Since women joined the workforce salaries have stayed stagnant so two people usually work now in a family leaving dad no time for lodge and no time for mom to be the sole caretaker of the house and kids. I am a mason, and although our membership is fine it’s finding people that have time to be active in the fraternity, we’ve had plenty of nights with just enough people to open and close the lodge and it does seem like a waste. So even within any fraternity there are always the same members that are lucky enough to have the time to come out and members that never show due to the fact that they have a 10 hour work day and a wife that they have to help when they get in because she’s just as tired from working as they are.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:47:21 +0000

We are forgetting the role of World War 2 in forming male roles for the 50s. In an era with a universal military obligation, what it meant to be a man was to be an organization man. You submitted to rank, hierarchy, and authority and willingly put your life in its hands.

When men came home from WW2, they wanted to leave the military life behind, but it had changed men and masculinity. Individuality was a lot less important than security and being a part of the new, stable, prosperous society you were coming back to.

With very few exceptions, young men had entered manhood as young servicemembers, and older men’s lives had been thwarted by 1930s social-economic conditions. There was very little alternative for either but to go with the program, a civilian society with an increasingly authoritarian character.

By: Kurt Eger

Kurt Eger — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:33:41 +0000

I feel that society still acts in accordance with these views and that this is not a message about men as much as it is about humans in general. I feel all the same angst and disillusionment about society as is indicated on this site and in this book, but I don’t believe that women are void of these same emotions and opinions. The writer William H. Whyte may have targeted men back when this book was written, but there is no way 50 years ago that anyone would have seen the liberal expansion of this society in all directions. When this book was first published was prior to society being made mature with the assasination of such key figures as John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X, etc. Society was idealistic and it was naive, all the things we lost when these men were killed for political reasons. This book was from a time before America had to look in the mirror with open eyes and see what we’ve become, before we had to admit our faults and correct for them. The message is still true, but the audience is broader.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:55:18 +0000

If you live in a town with a volunteer fire department, consider joining. Most have a social organization which contributes to the community via projects or donations. VFD’s are facing the same issues of declining membership.

I enjoyed this post and look forward to the future one on fraternal organizations.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:35:39 +0000

May I use snipets of this article to help recruit some of today’s younger vets into the VFW? VFW Posts all over the country are closing down despite the influx of eligable people. I think if more people would read this article it would really make them think about what they really do with their spare time. It is also my theory that the younger members are going to be able to make these type of organizations more efficient and worthwhile as they will ‘modernize’ the ways things are done inside these organizations through the use of computers.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:11:48 +0000

Another top-notch post – thank you