Occupations and society

96 Pages·2015·1.824 MB·English

by  Dunkerley, David

ROUTLEDGE REVIVALS
Occupations and
Society
David Dunkerley
Rontledge Revivals
Occupations and Society
Work and the nature of occupations are matters of central concern to
the sociologist. In this basic introduction to the sociology of profes­
sions, occupations and work, first published in 1975, David Dunkerley
provides a theoretical basis for the study of a subject that previously
had a strong empirical tradition. Drawing on comparative literature,
the author analyses the structure of occupation, the processes of occu­
pational life and how occupations are related to the predominant cul­
ture. The effects of occupations on the non-work lives of individuals are
also examined, and extended examples are given of managerial and
scientific occupations as case studies.
This page intentionally left blank
Occupations and Society
David Dunkerley
First published in 1975
by Routledge & Keg an Paul Ltd
This edition first published in 2013 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Qxon, 0X14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Fra mis Group, an informa business
©1975 David Dunkerley
All rights reserved. No part of rhis book may be reprinred or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Publisher’s Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but
points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.
Disclaimer
The publisher has made every' effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes
correspondence from those they have been unable to contact.
A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 76356425
ISBN 13: 978-0-415-71732-8 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-315-87137-0 (ebk)
Occupations and Society
DAVID DUNKERLEY
Routledge & Kegan Paul
London and Boston
First published in 1975
by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd
Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane,
London EC4V $EL and
9 Park Street,
Boston, Mass. 02108, USA
Set in Linotype Pilgrim
and printed in Great Britain by
Northumberland Press Limited, Gateshead
© David Dunkerley, 1975
No part of this book may be reproduced in
any form without permission from the
publisher, except lor the quotation of brief
passages in criticism
ISBN o 7100 8239 8 (c)
o 7100 8240 1 (p)
Contents
r Introduction page i
2 Occupational visibility and choice 5
The preparatory work period 6
The initial work period 7
The trial work period 8
The stable and retired work periods 9
The notion of choosing io
The social determinants of occupational choice 13
Occupational constraints on choice 19
Conclusions 21
3 Occupational mobility and career 22
Vertical and horizontal mobility 27
Organizational careers 30
Career expectations 31
Conclusions 34
4 Occupational ideologies and status 36
Occupational ideologies by type of occupation 38
Occupational ideologies—an example 40
Occupational status and prestige 44
Occupational situs 49
Conclusions 51
v
CONTENTS
The professions 52
The definition of professions 53
Science as a profession 58
The professional in the organization 61
Conclusions 67
Occupations and their non-work effects 68
Occupations and the family 68
Occupations and community involvement 70
Occupations and political activity 72
Occupations and leisure 73
The theory of work and leisure 77
Conclusions 80
Summary and further reading 81
Bibliography 84
vi
I
Introduction
The sociology of occupations owes its existence to the fact that
work in any society is both a socially desired activity and is
ubiquitous. Both of these factors make occupations and more
specifically the work that is performed by occupations of central
concern to the sociologist. The sociologist views work in terms of
the social relationships that are created by it. Since work is a
socially desired activity in industrialized societies, it is understand­
able that it should be viewed as fundamental to understanding
social behaviour.
However, occupations are something that are beyond a mere
description of work tasks within a particular society. Essentially,
occupations are roles within society that are defined by the nature
of the work that individuals perform. It follows therefore, as
Hughes (1958) has argued, that any occupation may be studied
sociologically as long as the criterion of individuals working and
being members of an occupation is subscribed to. There would
be no sociological significance in analysing an occupation if nobody
was employed in it at the present time, had been in the past or
was likely to be in the future. But if there is employment of indivi­
duals in a given sphere of activity, then that activity has a
sociological relevance.
From this straightforward position relating to area of interest,
all the components of the sociology of occupations follow. In the
first instance, it is important to recognize the achieved nature of
occupational and work status in the majority of cases in industrial­
ized societies. It is rare to find ascribed occupational status in
industrialized societies. The chapters in this book reflect the kinds
1