Chapter SevenChapter Seven

Work and Economic LifeWork and Economic Life

ObjectivesObjectives

• To provide an introduction to the debates To provide an introduction to the debates on how work is defined by sociologists and on how work is defined by sociologists and others.others.

• To review the global and local changes in To review the global and local changes in the way that economic production is the way that economic production is organised and managed.organised and managed.

• To identity who participates in the labour To identity who participates in the labour market and paid work, and who is excluded.market and paid work, and who is excluded.

Defining WorkDefining Work

• ““Expenditure of human effort and energy Expenditure of human effort and energy in providing some good or in in providing some good or in transforming part of the world, however transforming part of the world, however small.” (p. 117)small.” (p. 117)– Sociologists interested in the way that work Sociologists interested in the way that work

is defined and socially constructedis defined and socially constructed– Includes paid and unpaid workIncludes paid and unpaid work– Does not include leisure activitiesDoes not include leisure activities

• Defining ‘leisure’ can be problematicDefining ‘leisure’ can be problematic

Founding FathersFounding Fathers

• Marx, Weber and Durkheim all contributed to Marx, Weber and Durkheim all contributed to sociological understandings of ‘work’sociological understandings of ‘work’– MarxMarx

• Work in Capitalist society benefits some and Work in Capitalist society benefits some and disadvantages/exploits others disadvantages/exploits others

– WeberWeber• Interested in the organisation of work, and its Interested in the organisation of work, and its

bureaucratic and rational characteristicsbureaucratic and rational characteristics

– DurkheimDurkheim• Focused on work and the division of labourFocused on work and the division of labour

IndustrialisationIndustrialisation

• Developed during the nineteenth century Developed during the nineteenth century in Europein Europe– In an industrial society work was:In an industrial society work was:

• Performed outside the homePerformed outside the home• Based on an exchange of work for wagesBased on an exchange of work for wages• Performed predominantly by menPerformed predominantly by men• Structured around the needs of the employer and Structured around the needs of the employer and

the machinery of the factorythe machinery of the factory

– Based on a Fordist style of workBased on a Fordist style of work• Mass production and mass consumptionMass production and mass consumption

De-industrialisationDe-industrialisation

• Developed in the late twentieth centuryDeveloped in the late twentieth century– De-industrialisation is characterised by:De-industrialisation is characterised by:

• A decline in factory-type workA decline in factory-type work• Uncertainty in employmentUncertainty in employment• Rising unemployment and povertyRising unemployment and poverty• De-unionisation and the loss of favourable De-unionisation and the loss of favourable

conditions for workersconditions for workers

– Based on a Post-Fordist style of workBased on a Post-Fordist style of work• Workers must be flexible and internationally mobileWorkers must be flexible and internationally mobile

Work and InequalityWork and Inequality

• The labour market is divided into those The labour market is divided into those who are privileged and those who are notwho are privileged and those who are not– Based in part on access to well-paid Based in part on access to well-paid

employmentemployment

• Some people more likely to be excluded Some people more likely to be excluded from well-paid work than othersfrom well-paid work than others– WomenWomen– Ethnic MinoritiesEthnic Minorities

The Dual Labour MarketThe Dual Labour Market

• Highlights distinction between primary Highlights distinction between primary sector and secondary sectorsector and secondary sector– Primary sector characterised by:Primary sector characterised by:

• Good wagesGood wages• Good working conditionsGood working conditions• Domination by menDomination by men

– Secondary sector characterised by:Secondary sector characterised by:• Low wagesLow wages• Part-time and casual workPart-time and casual work• Domination by womenDomination by women

SummarySummary

• Marx, Weber and Durkheim were interested in Marx, Weber and Durkheim were interested in various aspects of the role of work in societyvarious aspects of the role of work in society

• There have been two major changes in the There have been two major changes in the nature of work over the last 200 yearsnature of work over the last 200 years– Industrialisation and de-industrialisationIndustrialisation and de-industrialisation

• De-industrialisation has increased income De-industrialisation has increased income inequalityinequality– Especially for women and ethnic minorities Especially for women and ethnic minorities