[WS:] But this is true of most institutions, no? I do not think that academia is much worse. The status game may be more visible in academia because you have a bunch of smart people watching, but that is a different story. ------------------
Yes, it's true for most professional gigs.
Wanting to be an academic right now reminds me of people who want to go back in history, imagining that they would be courtiers or noblemen or artists. Most of academia right now consists of tomato pickers. Temporary workers with no benefits and no security. And an overwhelming amount of work.
So....
Joanna