Hustle Culture: Cultural Hegemony in Action — Careers Done Write

In the early 20th century, Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci was dissatisfied with the failures of the revolution in European countries and sought to explain why the revolution wasn’t taking place in these advanced capitalist countries. He developed the concept of cultural hegemony as an explanation. This concept posits that through the institutions of society—schools, media, religious organizations—the ruling class enforces its moral, political, and social values onto the rest of society. Through hegemony, the apparatus of the state keeps its subjects repressed and suppresses revolution and dissent without the use of violence or force. 

#TLDR: The group that maintains control over the institutions controls the rest of society.

We see this manifested when those ruled by the dominant group come to believe that the economic and social conditions of their society are natural and inevitable rather than artificially created by people with a vested interest in particular social, economic, and political structures and outcomes.

According to Gramsci, the goal of these efforts is for the working class to develop a concept of ideal life that serves the purpose of the ruling class. One of the best contemporary examples is the idea of “hustle culture.” The hustle-culture narrative promotes the idea that there’s always more to strive for: more money to make, a bigger title or promotion to secure, and more barriers to break. What hustle culture looks like for the white-collar worker is something like this: Waking up at 5 AM, going for a run, having a green smoothie while journaling, and then sitting down for a day of endless meetings, calls, and strategy sessions, all in the name of improving your #grindset. Just look at how “success” is portrayed in the media. It is nearly always equated with financial and status gains and not with building strong relationships with people or pursuing intellectual goals. 

Consider the corporate behemoth and its unrestricted control of the global market economy. Corporations have become the new ruling class, vying for control over workers via coercion, subordination, emulation, and mystification. A great example of this is companies that have posted record profits requiring workers to return to an office. To sit on Teams calls all day. It’s not about collaboration; it’s about control. Such systems siphon energy and commitment away from family, community, and other spheres of life, thus corroding their meaning and value. 

This is prized by employers and employees alike. It is especially rampant in the United States due to its Calvinistic origins, which postulate that salvation and redemption can be achieved through labor and sacrifice. How often have you heard someone brag about working excessive hours, having limited time for leisure, or just being “busy”? This is hustle culture in action, and the pride associated with participating in it is cultural hegemony. When you imagine your self-worth in terms of productivity, who does that really serve? It serves the people who profit from your time.

We have a long way to go to transform corporate culture from hegemony into harmony. Managers should strive to create a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusivity and advocate for policies that actively challenge oppressive structures and norms. This can allow individuals to be their authentic selves and cultivate a stronger sense of purpose. Employees should be encouraged to take PTO and pursue interests outside of work and should, ideally, be viewed as individuals rather than tools for profit.