The meaning of work. Some arguments for the importance of culture within formulations of work in Europe

Gregson, N; Simonsen, K; Vaiou, D

dc.contributor.author	Gregson, N	en
dc.contributor.author	Simonsen, K	en
dc.contributor.author	Vaiou, D	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:15:19Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:15:19Z
dc.date.issued	1999	en
dc.identifier.issn	0969-7764	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/13433
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Studies	en
dc.subject.classification	Urban Studies	en
dc.subject.other	culture	en
dc.subject.other	labor market	en
dc.subject.other	working conditions	en
dc.subject.other	Europe	en
dc.title	The meaning of work. Some arguments for the importance of culture within formulations of work in Europe	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1177/096977649900600302	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/096977649900600302	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	1999	en
heal.abstract	This paper is concerned with examining the meaning of different forms of work found within the EU. Despite the increasing acknowledgement of the importance of the diversity of work forms within Europe, both within the Commission and the European academic literature, it is argued that existing formulations are highly problematic. Existing research, both academic and policy-related, is shown to be characterized by a bewildering terminology, which is often used interchangeably, and which works to reinscribe existing lines of power within the EU. Moreover, this work is shown to be theoretically problematic. The centrality of distinct measurable categories to representations of the diversity of contemporary work within the EU is argued to be a way of thinking which constructs difference in terms of statistical differences, which encourages homogenizing and oppositional representations of North and South, and which also facilitates thinking as the same that which may be very different. Correspondingly, we argue for an alternative analysis of the diversity of work forms, one which is grounded in the different meanings these forms assume in different cultural contexts. Taking three categories of 'atypical' work (part-time, self-employed and undeclared) in three EU member states (Greece, Denmark and the UK), the paper proceeds by demonstrating how categories which are constructed as same/different statistically are rather more complicated when considered in terms of the meanings invested in them. The categories of work are argued to be contextually and culturally embedded; they are inscribed with and reconstituted through culturally specific sets of meanings in each of the three member states under consideration. We conclude the paper by reflecting on the possibilities opened up by this kind of analysis, its implications regarding debates over European labour markets, and its positioning with respect to debates over the relationship between the cultural and the economic.	en
heal.publisher	SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD	en
heal.journalName	European Urban and Regional Studies	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1177/096977649900600302	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000081674500002	en
dc.identifier.volume	6	en
dc.identifier.issue	3	en
dc.identifier.spage	197	en
dc.identifier.epage	214	en