This past week I have been feeling quite overwhelmed with this course and as the first draft of the essay looms closer, I can feel myself getting into a panic!
Its funny… I know what ethics are, as I am aware we make ethical decisions everyday, however I am finding it hard to explain or define them…
What are ethics?
At its simplest, ethics is a system of moral principles. They affect how people make decisions and lead their lives.
Ethics is concerned with what is good for individuals and society and is also described as moral philosophy.
The term is derived from the Greek word ethos which can mean custom, habit, character or disposition.
Ethics covers the following dilemmas:
- how to live a good life
- our rights and responsibilities
- the language of right and wrong
- moral decisions - what is good and bad?
Ethics doesn't always show the right answer to moral problems.
Indeed more and more people think that for many ethical issues there isn't a single right answer - just a set of principles that can be applied to particular cases to give those involved some clear choices.
Some philosophers go further and say that all ethics can do is eliminate confusion and clarify the issues. After that it's up to each individual to come to their own conclusions.
Bbc.co.uk. 2020. BBC - Ethics - Introduction To Ethics: Ethics: A General Introduction. [online] Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/intro_1.shtml> [Accessed 9 October 2020].
This got me thinking about some experiences I have had or witnessed, that I think could be examples of unethical decisions / behaviour.
A teacher during my training, I had a real love, hate relationship with. This person, I was intimidated by, yet was so eager to please. I had a discussion with a friend recently about our memories of this teacher. Although I had some negative and positive memories, my friend had found that teacher extremely detrimental to her. We all learn differently and some people thrive in stressful situations and other people need support and need lifting up to reach their full potential. My friend took all the sarcastic comments to heart, instead of laughing them off, or using them to motivate her to get better. I had a comment shouted at me once, and this is very tame in comparison to some… ‘get out of my peripheral vision Emily, that move looks very uncoordinated on you!’, although I was embarrassed for being called out like that and sent to the back row, I did laugh it off as I kind of agreed and it felt uncomfortable on me. On the contrary, I can see how that comment could be so degrading and make someone want to give up and quit. My friend raised the point of having a teacher thats 'firm but fair'… but where is the line? As Dancers I am sure we have all heard the comment 'toughen up' if you want to make it in the dance profession! In some respects I agree, as it is a world full of no’s and knock backs, but is telling someone to ‘toughen up’ insensitive and wrong?
I also had a dance captain on one of my first professional jobs, who completely worked with the power of fear. They quite often reduced cast members to tears and would be completely unapproachable. I honestly bit my tongue to get through that contract, out of fear they would put in a bad word and I wouldn’t get rehired. However, now I look back at the situations and just have no respect for that person and think they acted unethically as our senior.
I do anything in my power not to act like them when I am managing my team on the ship.
I always try and think ethically and fairly. I always put myself in my casts shoes and think about previous dance captains that I have had, ones that I have disliked and why and which ones I aspired to be like. I always try and put my casts wellbeing first.
The more experience I have gained during my career, I feel like I have found my voice of standing up during situations I feel are wrong ,or if someone is acting unethical. Without living through these situations I wouldn’t have been able to discover whats acceptable or whats unfair.
Has anybody else experienced this during their training or on a job?
Lovely blog Emily! It is strange how 'normal' this is. I have experienced both peers at college and teachers which have made me that nervous, I have pretty much done whatever they have asked and been scared to find my voice. Which looking back is so silly. In my current job there is a nurse that makes me feel the same way... I feel like she is judging every move I make, doesn't want me to do well etc. We shouldnt have to live in fear with how others act!
ReplyDeleteSo grateful for your post as it's really got me thinking again x
Aww I am glad that I have got you thinking! I have really been struggling with the ethics side of my practise and this is what I felt to write about today, so I just went with it! Its crazy how we can let people intimidate us like that! I think you need to show you're confident with this nurse at work! I look back on experiences Ive had and I think they only make us learn from them and make us stronger! Or they plant a seed and make us think twice about how our actions will make someone feel!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily, I loved this blog and could relate to it in so many ways. I am also feeling doubtful about writing my first draft and am hoping that I can illustrate 'ethics' in the right way - but reading your blog was very helpful. I had teachers and choreographers in the past that had a more 'intimidating' way of teaching. When I first started college I was told that I would come across many people like this in the industry, and if I wanted to be a dancer I would have to become more thick-skinned. I did this to the best I could. But we are only human, and as much as we try not to, we still get offended. I also found that when I was working with these types of people, I struggled to maintain my calm which subsequently effected my performance. As a teacher, I try not to put my students under this pressure, as I feel that we all work/learn better in a calm atmosphere, despite the frustration sometimes. x
ReplyDeleteSo nice to hear your comments Alice! Me too I have certainly got much thicker skinned and have learnt not to take myself too seriously (which is hard when its such an emotion driven practise) However I am certainly a sensitive soul deep down, so there are times its hard to hide the emotions! I think as well a negative working environment is bad in a normal sense but on a ship its heightened so much more as its a big bubble and I find everyone is extra emotional! I am glad you have learnt from this and have adapted your teaching style to avoid your students ever feeling like this! :) Its something I certainly lead with as well! :)
DeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI really relate to this post a lot. And now being a teacher, and actually since talking about our own ethics, my ethical response to children has now been questioned by myself. Which can only be a good thing. I feel the same regarding the college situation. I remember a teacher I wanted to impress so much but was never good enough in his eyes, but that almost spurred me on with my career after that. In an almost two fingers up to them for not believing in me. And Im glad I did.
I do let some comments worry me still, but I also know that most of the time things said in jest or off the cuff are just those.
I was a dance captain a couple of times and at first it was tricky to be friends with them and not let your own personal views of their 'personal life' effect the way you gave them notes/feedback. But once you learn a happy medium then it works well.
I had a steep learning curve when my dad passed, as I felt like the world owed me something and I became very angry/outspoken for a while... this to my detriment probably wasn't the way to go. I have since been able to reign in what I say, but without loosing my ethics and belief for what I was standing up for.
Great post and yes...im also feeling a bit overwhelmed still with the looming essay date. x but we can do this x
Thanks for sharing your experiences Clare! Its so funny how most of us have felt this way about a teacher or director before. I think its amazing how we have proved our teachers wrong (or maybe that was their aim the whole time? who knows?).
DeleteAlso about being DC for the first time! I found this so difficult, its such a fine line or having respect and then them seeing you as soft or too strict in some cases! This is certainly something I took a while to adjust to especially socialising outside of work! I have certainly learnt that when I give notes to not act above them and to admit when I feel like I need to work on things or saying I am a culprit of a certain note too, to make them feel like I am on their side!
I can't imagine what you have been through, but I am certain your Dad will be so proud of all you have achieved with your life, especially starting this course and of course your upcoming wedding! But Its great you are aware of yourself and have ethics and morals and its always important to stand up for what you believe in and that takes guts! :)
YES WE GOT THIS!!!