“From Diligence to Authenticity”: Changes in the Perception of Diligence in Slovenia in Relation to Work

Abstract

Diligence is often considered to be one of cherished Slovene characteristics. At the same time contemporary Slovene discourses problematize it, for example, as wrong and as a possible path leading towards burnout. The article therefore describes the variety of meanings and values attributed to the Slovene adjective “pridnost”. It is based on the analysis of one collection of Slovenian riddles and of one collection of proverbs, as well as of the public media discourse. Mainly through posts in a selected Facebook group Burnout, bye bye the author specifically observed the relationship between burnout and diligence. In the article anthropological literature on medical anthropology, anthropology of work and critical anthropology of care, related to the topic of an article, is therefore presented. The change in meaning of the adjective “priden” in Slovenia over time is illustrated using two mentioned collections of proverbs and riddles, which is further compared with the contemporary media discourses, linking diligence to burnout.

As the author establishes, proverbs as well as only two examples of riddles manifest adjective “priden” as, among other things, diligence, care, perseverance, the opposite of laziness and greatest wealth (against poverty, hunger). In the context of the former, predominantly agricultural economy “pridnost” is supposedly related to the economic survival of the individual and the community. Contemporary sources, on the other hand, associate “pridnost” with uncreative, non-innovative and inefficient work, with intolerance of individualization, while learning to be diligent – as it can lead to burnout – is considered undesirable. However, as the proverbs show, “pridnost” was already in the past supposedly cultivated through rigor, example and overcoming difficulties. Nowadays, burnout is interestingly perceived as one such difficulty that forces an individual to change and cultivate a different, more contemporary self. Burnout is therefore said to teach individuals to take care of themselves first, of their health and energy, which is consequently supposedly good and useful for the whole community and its economy. According to the author, unlearning to be “priden”, perceived as industrious and fulfilling of duties, is therefore accompanied with a process of learning new understandings of diligence. As illustrated, an updated meaning of “pridnost” is emerging, linked above all to self-care. At the same time, proverbs illustrate that in the past diligence was not sufficient for changing the existing personal economic and social situation. Contrary to that, contemporary incentives to “to take power back into one's own hands” describe self-care as one own's responsibility and the only way of changing personal situation.