I've been researching in-work poverty for several months now, and I couldn't help but think of Thomas Barrow. His colleagues and Lord Grantham hated him for being "unpleasant and scheming." Yet, before the war, he had been a clockmaker, footman, and valet; he served two years as a stretcher-bearer in the war, in the worst battles; he was able to manage the Downton nursing home from a medical perspective; and he saved Lady Edith from dying in a fire. Despite all this, they wanted to fire him without offering him any help finding another job. Bates, on the other hand, wasn't at risk of being unemployed, despite his constant legal troubles, his inability to work as a footman, clockmaker, or hunting assistant, and his lack of medical knowledge. Bates had "social capital" (social support with a healthy dose of nepotism?). Anndy wasn't fired either, despite being illiterate. I don't want to speak ill of Anndy; everyone deserves a chance, especially those with disadvantages like hers.
I ask: Did Carson, whose mission was to maintain the family's standard of service, hate Thomas so much that he became incapable of reasoning? With all of Thomas's skills, it was impossible for him to represent an expense; at the very least, they saved on a watchmaker's fees in a house with so many clocks.
Thomas suffers from labor poverty; that is, despite having an education and a job, he couldn't escape poverty. On the contrary, he risked falling into even greater poverty.
Currently, several studies state that, due to job insecurity, many workers go to their workplaces even when sick (Thomas worked while physically and mentally ill). It is also mentioned that workers facing wage insecurity exhibit three behaviors: 1) They try to keep their jobs and don't teach newcomers anything beyond the basics; Thomas didn't want to help William or Alfred, but he did help Anndy. 2) Some workers are rebellious and try to disrupt the order; Thomas, by demanding freedom of speech in the first season, was already more rebellious than Tom. 3) The workers flatter their supervisors and spy for them; Thomas was the super spy, but he would never suck up to Carson.
I think that in Thomas's work circumstances, I would also be depressed, but first I would tell everyone to go to hell and conspire against them (not that, but I swear I rebelled against the oppressive power, hehe). I think Thomas doesn't act like a villain, but like a poor worker.
To clarify, I'm only referring to the work circumstances, without including social exclusion based on sexual orientation. I leave that analysis to those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. I considered Thomas's circumstances only from the perspective of a worker and student.
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