Work and Occupation in Society

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Questions and Answers

What method did Henry Ford use to increase speed and precision in production?

Job rotation

Mass customization

Telecommuting

Assembly line (correct)

Which term describes workers that help superiors feel important according to Graeber?

Duct Tapers

Taskmasters

Flunkies (correct)

Goons

What psychological impact does meaningless work have on individuals, as discussed by David Graeber?

Enhanced productivity

Increased job satisfaction

Complete indifference

Virtuous suffering (correct)

Which concept introduced by Marx describes the loss of control workers experience in production?

Alienation Signup and view all the answers

Why did Fordism become less effective by the mid-1970s?

Intensifying wage pressures from globalization Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the transition from Fordism to Post-Fordism?

Increased focus on flexibility and innovation Signup and view all the answers

What type of work involves employees patching over problems rather than solving them?

Duct Tapers Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'mass customization' suggest in the context of new forms of work?

An illusion of choice for consumers Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'occupation' refer to?

Work done in exchange for a wage Signup and view all the answers

How did industrialization affect the nature of work?

It generated economic interdependence among many positions. Signup and view all the answers

Which individual is known for identifying the advantages of the division of labor?

Adam Smith Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant reason for the decline in union membership in commercial sectors?

Flexible production and casualization Signup and view all the answers

What change occurred during the industrial era concerning craftsmanship?

Deskilling of the workforce as a result of hyper-specialization. Signup and view all the answers

Which political stance is more likely to oppose unionization?

Right-wing governments Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary contribution of Taylorism to work processes?

Maximizing output by concentrating production knowledge in management. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'occupational gender segregation' refer to?

The division of occupations into gendered categories Signup and view all the answers

In pre-industrial societies, what was a common characteristic of work?

Production often occurred close to or within homes. Signup and view all the answers

What is one factor that has contributed to the feminization of work in the 20th century?

Greater numbers of women entering the paid labor force Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the separation of domestic and economic spheres have during industrialization?

It created a reliance on the services and products of others. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the apprenticeship/mastery model in traditional craftwork?

It involved close mentorship and skill development. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT part of the '5C's' associated with the feminization of work?

Construction Signup and view all the answers

What does the gender pay gap primarily stem from?

Gender segregation in the workforce Signup and view all the answers

According to Ann Oakley, housework contributes to wealth in industrialized countries by what percentage?

25-40% Signup and view all the answers

What trend correlates with the increase of women’s economic activity?

Growth of part-time and low-paying positions Signup and view all the answers

Which profession listed has the highest average salary?

Cardiologist Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the relationship between essential work and pay?

Essential workers are generally underpaid compared to other professions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the diverse attitudes to work mentioned?

A source of personal wealth. Signup and view all the answers

Which profession is associated with the lowest average salary in the provided data?

Nanny Signup and view all the answers

In terms of salary, which of the following roles earns less than $50,000?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which profession earns an average salary closest to $60,000?

Accounting Manager Signup and view all the answers

What purpose of work involves exercising and teaching skills?

Activity that exercises abilities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a job that typically pays between $40,000 and $50,000?

Instructor/Teacher Signup and view all the answers

According to the list, how much does an Electrical Engineer earn on average?

$134,178 Signup and view all the answers

What impact has industrialization had on the home according to the content?

The home transformed into the center of consumption and leisure. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of domestic work, what has been observed regarding men's involvement?

Men tend to have more leisure time and prefer easier tasks. Signup and view all the answers

How has automation affected domestic work according to the content?

Automation has made domestic work invisible while changing its nature. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of enhancing automation in the workforce?

It may reduce feelings of alienation by eliminating undesirable jobs. Signup and view all the answers

What might the bifurcated workforce indicate about the future job market?

A divide between skilled professionals and clerical/service workers with minimal control. Signup and view all the answers

What does futurology in the context of workforce changes imply?

It examines existing trends to envision future possibilities, both positive and negative. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major concern related to job risks due to automation?

30-50% of jobs may be significantly at risk due to automation. Signup and view all the answers

What influence does economic dependency have on women's experience in the domestic sphere?

Economic dependency contributes to women's isolation and blurs the line between work and home. Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of increased automation in the workforce?

Increased deskilling of jobs Signup and view all the answers

Which sector is NOT mentioned as being affected by automation?

Education Signup and view all the answers

In a post-industrial society, what type of work becomes prevalent?

Design and technological development Signup and view all the answers

According to the concept of Monopoly Capitalism, what happens to smaller firms over time?

They are absorbed or pushed out of the market. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of multi-skilling in the contemporary workforce?

Enhancing adaptability and skill acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a characteristic of portfolio workers?

Working exclusively in one field Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'homeworking' imply in the context of the modern workforce?

A blend of work responsibilities with home tasks Signup and view all the answers

What major change is associated with the rise of the Knowledge Economy?

Withdrawal from physical goods production Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definitions

Work is the performance of tasks requiring mental and physical effort, whether paid or unpaid.
Occupation (job) is work performed in exchange for a wage.
Work forms the basis of the economy, encompassing the production and distribution of goods and services.

Pre-Industrial Societies

Pre-industrial societies consisted of various trades and specialized roles (e.g., priests, blacksmiths, teachers).
Traditional craftwork or apprenticeship/mastery models were common.
Production and household activities were often combined, typically occurring inside or near the home.
Women often played significant roles in economic matters, alongside children participating in work.

Industrialization/Urbanization

Industrialization and urbanization increased the number of roles.
Domestic and economic spheres became separate (private/public).
Interdependence of positions increased, with advanced economic solidarity.
Daily life grew dependent on products and services from others.
Small-scale craftsmanship declined, and the workforce became deskilled.
New types of work arose, impacting the work experience.

Historical Work Management

Adam Smith (1723-1790) observed the advantages of dividing labor (e.g., pin manufacturing), significantly increasing productivity.
Frederick Winslow Taylor (1865-1915) developed Taylorism, a scientific management system focused on maximizing output by strategically allocating production knowledge to management.
Henry Ford (1863-1947) introduced Fordism during the early 20th century (and lasting into the 1970s), using specialized tools and tasks to enhance assembly-line efficiency, improving speed and precision.

Alienation in Work

New types of "dull" and seemingly meaningless work emerged, lacking purpose.
David Graeber (2018) highlighted the psychologically destructive nature of pointless work.
Tasks like "flunkies," "goons," "duct tapers," "box tickers," and "taskmasters" exemplify this trend.
Alienation (Marx) encompasses the loss of control over the production process, leading to indifference and worker hostility.

New Forms of Work

By the mid-1970s, international markets and new competition emerged, impacting the Fordist production model.
Fordism was largely tied to large and uniform markets, which proved inflexible.
Globalization and wage pressures led to alternative models, including those characterized by low trust and high surveillance.

Post-Fordism and Collaborative Work

Post-Fordism deviated from Fordist principles emphasizing flexibility, innovation, and tailoring production to varied demands.
Mass customization or the New Industrial Revolution focused on satisfying diverse consumer preferences.
Collaborative groups of workers, often with peer oversight and reduced managerial influence, became common.

Work and Interaction

Work interplay often involves considerations beyond money—like skill, training, intelligence, responsibility, and seniority.
Essential work, such as fulfillment of basic needs, may be correspondingly underpaid, relative to other jobs.
Social standing related to employment is another significant consideration

Diverse Attitudes Toward Work

Work is perceived as a source of income, skill honing, variety, structure, social ties, and personal identity.

Types of Work (Beyond Formal Employment)

Work doesn't always fit the stereotypical model of formal paid employment.
Informal economies exist with production and transactions outside the framework of regular employment(e.g. cash economies and bartering).
Informal employment represents a significant portion of the workforce in various regions (especially Africa, Asia/Pacific, Arab world, and parts of the Americas and Europe).

High Rates of Informality

Developing nations often exhibit high rates of informal employment.
This aspect is noticeable on a global scale given figures for informal employment for the world's diverse regions.

Global South/North Differences

The Global South is often characterized by a sizeable informal and agricultural sector while industrialised economies of North frequently have large service sectors. These sectors are often tightly regulated regarding hours, wages, etc.
Labour-saving machinery has reduced the labor force in certain roles.

Unions

Unions emerged in response to industrialization and the need for worker protections.
Collective organization provided a means to challenge employer power.
Union membership in developed economies has declined in recent decades.
Declines in union membership have resulted from reduced manufacturing jobs, globalization, and flexible production schemes.

Feminization of Work

Women's involvement in the paid labor force has grown significantly in the 20th century.
This increase correlates with the rise of part-time employment and lower paying jobs.
The average age of motherhood has risen.
Smaller families and economic pressures also influence this trend.

Inequalities at Work

Occupational positions often come with cultural meanings that affect opportunities and pay.
Women disproportionately occupy categories of work that are low paying, mundane, routine, and offer limited opportunities for advancement or professional growth.
Vertical and horizontal segregation often limit opportunities for women.

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap persists, even in similar roles and occupations—women typically receive lower pay.
There is a gap related to Canadian-born and indigenous women employed in Canada

Work and the Domestic Sphere

Domestic work is considered major, but largely unpaid.
While integral to society, this work receives less monetary compensation and status recognition compared to equivalent paid work.

Automation and Deskilling

Automation may eliminate undesirable jobs.
Automation may increase job specialization, distance from products and the production process.
A bifurcation of workers may occur (high-skilled/specialized vs. clerical/service).
An approach towards “low trust” and “low skill” models in production may result.

Future of Work

Futurology attempts to predict future work trends.
Questions arise regarding increased automation, related unemployment, and whether increased automation and leisure time occur.

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Description

This quiz explores the definitions and distinctions between work and occupation, particularly in the context of pre-industrial and industrial societies. It examines the evolution of roles and the impact of industrialization and urbanization on the workforce. Test your understanding of these fundamental concepts in economic history.