Extending conceptual boundaries: work, voluntary work and employment

Taylor, R.F. 2004. Extending conceptual boundaries: work, voluntary work and employment. Work, Employment & Society. 18 (1), pp. 29-49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017004040761

TitleExtending conceptual boundaries: work, voluntary work and employment
TypeJournal article
AuthorsTaylor, R.F.
Abstract

Traditional social theory has conceptualized work in terms of a dichotomy of public paid employment and private unpaid labour that oversimplifies the complexity of traditional and contemporary work practices and excludes voluntary work from sociological understandings of work. This article explores the lives of five workers from two voluntary sector organizations, whose experiences highlight the weaknesses of concepts such as 'career' and suggest that work's conceptual boundaries be extended. A framework based on the 'total social organization of labour' is developed that distinguishes between paid and unpaid work within the setting of institutional, community and family relations. This provides a basis for mapping individuals' labour and exploring both the interconnections between their work positions and the boundaries of their work identity. At the structural level it highlights how health care and community work constitute labour markets or 'fields' ; hierarchical structures governed by rules that shape how positions are accessed.

KeywordsEmployment, fields, informal economic activity, TSOL, unpaid work, voluntary work
JournalWork, Employment & Society
Journal citation18 (1), pp. 29-49
ISSN0950-0170
Year2004
PublisherSage
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017004040761
Publication dates
PublishedMar 2004

Related outputs

Better off working? Work, poverty and benefit cycling
Ray, K., Hoggart, L., Vegeris, S. and Taylor, R.F. 2010. Better off working? Work, poverty and benefit cycling. York Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Understanding the worklessness and financial exclusion of Riverside tenants
Francavilla, F., Kasparova, D., Taylor, R.F., Smeaton, D. and Sahin-Dikmen, M. 2010. Understanding the worklessness and financial exclusion of Riverside tenants. London Policy Studies Institute.

Rewarding responsibility? Long-term unemployed men and the welfare-to-work agenda
Ray, K., Hoggart, L., Taylor, R.F., Vegeris, S. and Campbell-Barr, V. 2009. Rewarding responsibility? Long-term unemployed men and the welfare-to-work agenda. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy. 27 (6), pp. 975-990. https://doi.org/10.1068/c0852

An ageing workforce: the employer's perspective
Barnes, H., Smeaton, D. and Taylor, R.F. 2009. An ageing workforce: the employer's perspective. Brighton Institute for Employment Studies.

London student pledge evaluation
Hoggart, L., MacKinnon, K., Ray, K., Taylor, R.F., Vegeris, S. and Parsons, C. 2008. London student pledge evaluation. Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Orientation, opportunity and autonomy: why people work after state pension age in three areas of England
Parry, J. and Taylor, R.F. 2007. Orientation, opportunity and autonomy: why people work after state pension age in three areas of England. Ageing and Society. 27 (4), pp. 579-598. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X0700606X

Engaging older citizens: a study of London boroughs
Vegeris, S., Barnes, H., Campbell-Barr, V., MacKinnon, K. and Taylor, R.F. 2007. Engaging older citizens: a study of London boroughs. London London Councils.

Beyond the tick box: older citizen engagement in UK local government
Vegeris, S., Barnes, H., Campbell-Barr, V., MacKinnon, K., Taylor, R.F., Martin, D. and Harris, J. 2007. Beyond the tick box: older citizen engagement in UK local government. Policy Studies Institute & Better Government for Older People.

Race discrimination claims: unrepresented claimants' and employers' views on Acas' conciliation in employment tribunal cases
Hudson, M., Barnes, H., Brooks, S. and Taylor, R.F. 2007. Race discrimination claims: unrepresented claimants' and employers' views on Acas' conciliation in employment tribunal cases. London Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

A review of BIG funding for older people
Barnes, H., Smeaton, D., Taylor, R.F. and Vegeris, S. 2007. A review of BIG funding for older people. London Big Lottery Fund.

Work, saving and retirement among ethnic minorities: a qualitative study
Barnes, H. and Taylor, R.F. 2006. Work, saving and retirement among ethnic minorities: a qualitative study. Leeds, UK Corporate Document Services.

Between cosmopolitanism and the locals: mobility as a resource in the transition to adulthood
Thomson, R. and Taylor, R.F. 2005. Between cosmopolitanism and the locals: mobility as a resource in the transition to adulthood. Young. 13 (4), pp. 327-342. https://doi.org/10.1177/1103308805057051

Confronting New Challenges of Work Today: New Horizons and Perspectives
Parry, J., Taylor, R.F., Pettinger, L. and Glucksmann, M. 2005. Confronting New Challenges of Work Today: New Horizons and Perspectives. Sociological Review. 53 (2_suppl), pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2005.00569.x

Changing priorities, transformed opportunities?
Parry, J. and Taylor, R.F. 2005. Changing priorities, transformed opportunities? London, UK Policy Studies Institute.

Farmers, farm workers and work related stress
Parry, J., Barnes, H., Lindsey, R. and Taylor, R.F. 2005. Farmers, farm workers and work related stress. Sudbury, UK HSE Books.

Ethnic minority outreach: an evaluation
Barnes, H., Hudson, M., Parry, J., Sahin-Dikmen, M., Taylor, R.F. and Wilkinson, D. 2005. Ethnic minority outreach: an evaluation. Leeds, UK Corporate Document Services.

Changing priorities, transformed opportunities?: Why people work after state pension age
Parry, J. and Taylor, R.F. 2004. Changing priorities, transformed opportunities?: Why people work after state pension age. Work, Employment and Society Conference. UMIST, Manchester 01 - 03 Sep 2004

Independent living in later life
Parry, J., Vegeris, S., Hudson, M., Barnes, H. and Taylor, R.F. 2004. Independent living in later life. Leeds, UK Corporate Document Services.

Working after state pension age: qualitative research
Barnes, H., Parry, J. and Taylor, R.F. 2004. Working after state pension age: qualitative research. Leeds, UK Corporate Document Services.

Evaluation of adult basic skills Pathfinder Extension activities: stage 1 surveys of learners and teachers
White, M., Killeen, J. and Taylor, R.F. 2003. Evaluation of adult basic skills Pathfinder Extension activities: stage 1 surveys of learners and teachers. Leeds, UK Corporate Document Services.

Making second chances work : final report from the Qualitative Evaluation of Adult Basic Skills Pathfinder Extension Activities
Barnes, H., Hudson, M., Taylor, R.F., Parry, J. and Sahin-Dikmen, M. 2003. Making second chances work : final report from the Qualitative Evaluation of Adult Basic Skills Pathfinder Extension Activities. London, UK Department for Education and Skills.

New Deal for Lone Parents: A Qualitative Evaluation of the In-Work Training Grant Pilot
Lakey, J., Parry, J., Barnes, H. and Taylor, R.F. 2002. New Deal for Lone Parents: A Qualitative Evaluation of the In-Work Training Grant Pilot.

In touch: young people, communication and technology
Henderson, S., Taylor, R.F. and Thomson, R. 2002. In touch: young people, communication and technology. Information, Communication and Society. 5 (4), pp. 494-512. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691180208538802

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9305y/extending-conceptual-boundaries-work-voluntary-work-and-employment


Share this

Usage statistics

192 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.