About this Word …
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The regular mention of “essential workers”, “essential services” and “essential businesses” only began a few weeks ago. But the uses of these terms have evolved in interesting ways – raising important cultural and political questions. These questions of meaning are important for dictionaries. So in Part 2 of this post (to be published tomorrow) I’d like to offer some reflections on the role of dictionaries in our communication processes.
The links at the end of this article are about how governments and organizations at all levels are engaging in the process of defining these terms – linking abstract meanings of “essential” with concrete guidance on how we can give them concrete meaning. They are defining these words, and in doing that, they are linking our abstract understandings with our way of life – defining and re-defining our way of life in practical ways – if we accept these ways into our language.
So with these issues in mind, here is a collection of stories that indicate how the process of shaping and re-shaping definitions works. As you notice these stories, perhaps you will be thinking about the “essential services” and “essential workers” in your life.
1. “The Department of Homeland Security will broaden the list of “essential workers” in the energy sector to include those supporting industries and companies “regardless of the energy source,” after at least one governor tried to shut down his state’s coal industry.” (https://www.insidesources.com/exclusive-updated-federal-essential-worker-guidance-will-expand-energy-sector-definitions/)
2. In New York, “Essential Businesses must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the Department of Health (DOH) and every business, even if essential, is strongly urged to maintain social distancing measures to the extent possible.” (https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026)
3. But implementing and enforcing the requirements imposed on essential businesses definition may leave some aspects open for interpretation.
“Bosses Stretch the Definition of Who Is ‘Essential’ — and Workers Take the Risk: Businesses are seizing on vague definitions and lax enforcement to stay open during shutdowns.” (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-04-09/are-you-an-essential-worker-in-the-pandemic-that-depends)
4. Should religious services included in a definition of “essential services”? Religious News Service notes: “what is essential about church? For those of us who believe, the answer is: much, in every way, but not necessarily tied to the building.” (https://religionnews.com/2020/04/10/are-churches-essential-services/)
5. But some states have defined religious services as “essential”. In Texas, The Governor issued an executive order that defines essential services to include “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.” https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/governor-abbott-and-attorney-general-paxton-provide-joint-guidance-houses-worship-operating
6. The Governor of Florida issued a similar order that includes “attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues, and houses of worship” in the definition of “essential services”. The Florida situation is complicated by conflicting definitions issued by local and state authorities. Hillsborough County has a stricter stay-at-home law, and questions whether the governor can supersede the local order. (https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/governor-desantis-includes-attending-religious-services-conducted-in-churches-as-essential-services)
7. The Center for American Progress recently published a study of states enacting exemptions to stay-at-home orders on religious grounds, describing it as “an alarming trend.”(https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/religion/news/2020/03/27/482359/religious-exemptions-coronavirus-pandemic-will-worsen-crisis/)
8. In addition to essential workers and essential services, we may be seeing a growing awareness of the important role of small businesses.
“The Coronavirus Is Showing Us Which Entrepreneurs Matter. The owners of hair salons, bike shops and delis are stepping up to help their communities, all while wondering if they’ll make it.
9. And finally … “Florida Gov. DeSantis declared WWE an ‘essential service’.”
Governor DeSantis has designated World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) an “essential business”, because his constituents are “starving for content”. This does show that he knows we need to feed both the starving body and the starving spirit – in this case, applying a very broad and pointed notion of “spirit”.
Don’t forget to check out Part 2 of this post – to be published tomorrow – for a view of how “essential” gets defined in the “real world”.
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