Chapter 11 - Work and the Workplace Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What was the age of the youngest girl?

14 years old

Which zone is at the center most area of the target shaped model discussed in class?

Zone of Transition

Independent worker's home

Commuter's Zone

Business District (correct)

Which of the following statements is true?

Service work decreased while industrial work rose in the late 1900s

Both farming and industry increased through the late 1800s

Farming declined in the late 1800s as industry increased (correct)

Service work is becoming less prominent

Harris and Blanck were _ and .

Acquitted of wrongful death : they walked with an insurance settlement Signup and view all the answers

_, daughter of a prominent __ lent support, for a time, to strikers, showing solidarity between classes.

Anne Morgan : financier Signup and view all the answers

Transforming raw materials into products like turning lumber into furniture is a(an) _________ economic sector activity.

Secondary Signup and view all the answers

Work and the workplace are rigid concepts that do not change over time and space.

False Signup and view all the answers

What are the four principles of McDonaldization?

Efficiency, Predictability, Uniformity, Automation Signup and view all the answers

What was the Industrial Revolution?

By the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution began changing the nature of work, moving people from primary sector jobs producing raw materials to secondary sector jobs turning raw materials into finished products. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Information Revolution refer to?

The Information Revolution occurred after 1950, changing the nature of work through deindustrialization and moving people into service jobs in the tertiary sector. Signup and view all the answers

Define deindustrialization.

The decline of industrial production in the US after about 1950, resulting in the closing of many factories and the movement of former factory workers into low-paying service jobs. Signup and view all the answers

What is globalization?

The expansion of economic activity around the world with little regard for national borders. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the primary labor market?

Jobs that provide good pay and extensive benefits Signup and view all the answers

What defines the secondary labor market?

Jobs that provide low pay and little or no benefits Signup and view all the answers

What is alienation in the context of the workplace?

Powerlessness in the workplace resulting in isolation and misery. Signup and view all the answers

What is McDonaldization?

Defining work in terms of efficiency, predictability, uniformity, and automation Signup and view all the answers

What was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire?

A tragic event on March 25th, 1911, that resulted in 145 deaths. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main types of economies?

Preindustrial, Industrial, Postindustrial. Signup and view all the answers

What is a monopoly?

Dominating an entire market by a single producer Signup and view all the answers

What is socialism?

An economic system where production means are collectively owned Signup and view all the answers

What factors influenced productivity in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?

Speed and investment in technology such as electric sewing machines. Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of labor unions in the 20th century?

Labor unions gained strength with the industrial economy and claimed one-third of all US nonfarm workers by 1950. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Industrial Revolution and Information Revolution

Beginning in the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution shifted labor from primary sector roles to secondary sector jobs, turning raw materials into finished goods.
Post-1950, the Information Revolution prompted deindustrialization, transitioning workers into service jobs within the tertiary sector.

Deindustrialization and Globalization

Deindustrialization in the US after 1950 saw industrial factory closures, leading many factory workers to low-paying service jobs with limited benefits.
Globalization refers to the worldwide expansion of economic activities, often disregarding national borders.

Labor Markets

The dual labor market comprises primary (high-paying, benefit-rich jobs) and secondary labor markets (low-paying, minimal benefit jobs).
Occupational fields in the primary labor market include attorneys, dentists, and professors, while secondary jobs often exist in retail and hospitality.

Alienation in the Workplace

Alienation, as viewed by Marx, is the powerlessness experienced by workers, contrasting preindustrial craft roles with repetitive industrial tasks.
Weber’s perspective associates alienation with the impersonal nature of modern workplaces driven by efficiency.
The rationalization of society describes a shift from traditional to rational thought processes, impacting workplace dynamics.

McDonaldization

McDonaldization defines work adopting principles of efficiency, predictability, uniformity, and automation, leading to "McJobs" characterized by low satisfaction and high turnover.

Employment Trends and Job Security

Approximately 20% of the US labor force consists of temporary, part-time, or contract workers lacking job security and benefits.
Unemployment is defined as the proportion of the workforce unable to find jobs, with a noted 5.0% rate in 2015, excluding "missing workers" who have stopped searching for employment.

Workplace Inequality

Despite broader job availability for women and minorities, these groups often remain in lower-paying positions due to institutional prejudice.
Labor unions peaked in the 1950s but now represent only 11% of US workers due to deindustrialization and the rise of service jobs.

The Impact of Technology on Work

New information technologies redefine workplace structures through remote work and increased managerial control, often resulting in the deskilling of roles.

Theoretical Perspectives on Work

Structural-functional theory examines how work disruptions from technological changes can lead to unemployment, balanced by retraining initiatives.
Symbolic-interaction theory emphasizes the importance of job meaning in social identity, contrasting positive perceptions in primary markets vs. negative associations in secondary jobs.
Social-conflict theory highlights power dynamics and alienation in workplaces, while feminist and conservative theories address gender and market efficiency perspectives, respectively.

Economic Structures and Theories

Capitalism emphasizes private ownership and market competition but can lead to wealth inequality.
Socialism promotes collective ownership, aiming for reduced inequality but at the cost of individual freedoms.
The debate between government control and free-market solutions continues to shape economic policies in various countries.

Urban Development and Labor History

The concentric zone model outlines city structure from the central business district to commuter zones.
Significant historical events, like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, epitomize workplace hazards and labor struggles, with 145 fatalities highlighting the dire conditions of industrial labor.

Characteristics of Economic Sectors

The primary sector revolves around raw material extraction, secondary focuses on manufacturing, and tertiary emphasizes service-oriented roles.
The shift toward a service-based economy has seen about 85% of the labor force engaged in service work by present times.

Key Figures and Events

Notable individuals like Clara Lemlich and Ann Morgan played pivotal roles in labor activism, addressing unsafe working conditions and advocating for workers' rights in the early 20th century.
The working conditions during the industrial era reflected harsh realities with long hours, low pay, and lack of safety measures prevalent across many factories.

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Description

Explore the key concepts of work and the workplace in this quiz based on Chapter 11. Learn about significant revolutions that have transformed industries, including the Industrial and Information Revolutions. Test your knowledge and understanding of how these changes have shaped modern employment.