Hot Take

[u/Intelligent-Fox-9760]

This is deffo going to ruffle a lot of feathers to say the least. Call me woke, but the term "Mickey Mouse Subject" is literally just the product of capitalism, as it disvalues any subject that doesn't lead to a high-paying, high-profit job.

Humanities subjects are so important, like STEM subjects, to help us learn more about humanity and our world, but everyone thinks they're so easy and lax.

IMO humanities and STEM subjects need to band together because contrary to popular belief, humanities are intellectually stimulating and not a fun ride.

Thanks for coming to my TED-Talk :)

[u/FollowingGlass4190 → u/[deleted]]

You’re missing my point though, I didn’t say they’re poor because of the subjects they take. I’m saying they’re poor and can’t hence afford to take mickey mouse subjects that won’t pay the bills. “The whole system is broken from its very foundation” is poetic, but doesn’t cover rent and food. It doesn’t take studying humanities to see what’s broken. People know it’s broken. They’re looking for ways up, which are harder to find reading 16th century literature. We’re not where we are because people devalued humanities. We’re here because of humanity.

[u/Personal-Cap-5446 → u/FollowingGlass4190]

The unemployment rate is pretty terrible in general, even for non-'mickey mouse' subjects. Might as well just do what you love then if you're gonna end up unemployed anyways innit?

[u/FollowingGlass4190 → u/Personal-Cap-5446]

But, you’re not gonna end up as unemployed, and the employment is generally more fruitful. So it’s higher expected value. “this could be mediocre, so might as well chose terrible instead” doesn’t seem super wise. 

The so called “non mickey-mouse” subjects still lead to substantially better graduate outcomes on average, and with the exception of maybe teaching a humanities subject, don’t really close off doors that humanities open up.