Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

Sociology of Work Working offers people an opportunity to add meaning to one’s life. They can achieve a sense of mastery and a belief that they have something to offer society. There are many types of jobs. • Blue-collar occupations are those involving manual labor or factory work. • White-collar occupations are those involving office or non-manual work. • Pink-collar occupations are those that are usually reserved for females. The labor market is a means of connecting potential workers with employers. The primary labor market includes high-paying, prestigious occupations with extensive benefits. The secondary labor market includes low-skill occupations with low pay and fewbenefits. In times of economic hardship, many blue-collar workers in the secondary labor market lose their jobs. Women, non-whites, older workers and migrant/seasonal workers have a higher percentage chance of becoming unemployed. Unemployment rates in America have been connected to oil prices, recession and recovery, and an influx of women and young workers into the labormarkets. Division of labor refers to the way work is divided between individuals and groups who are specialized in particular activities. Every society employs division of labor. Preindustrial societies have simpler division while post-industrial have the most complex divisions because of the variety of jobs needing specialization. Emile Durkheim asserted that specialization actually changes or loosens thebonds holding a society together because it encourages individualism and not community. The term used to describe the extent members of a society are bound together is social solidarity. Social solidarity depends on the level of the division of labor. Mechanical solidarity focuses on the similarity of members in small societies where everyone does similar work. The similar work maintains the cohesion of the group. There is little individualism in these societies; they are loyal and concerned for the group. Org nic solidarity is caused by a complex division of labor that leaves members interdependent. This is most common in modern societies that require complex divisions of labor. Solidarity here focuses on differences, not similarities. The opposite of solidarity is alienation. Workers can develop a sense of alienation if they feel powerless (unable to control or influence the job), meaningless (lacking a sense of purpose), isolated (disconnected from others), and/or self-estranged (when judgments and creativity are stifled). Worker alienation can lead to high absenteeism, low self-esteem, sabotage, high turnover, or low morale. Thankfully, the majority of American workers express satisfaction in their jobs than alienation. Researchers have identified eight factors that lead to worker satisfaction: • Prestigious jobs that lead to personal satisfaction • Challenging jobs that have both variety and autonomy • Considerate supervision

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