Faculty Publications

Bored And Busy: Sociology Of Knowledge Of Clerical Workers

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Sociological Perspectives

Volume

35

Issue

3

First Page

489

Last Page

503

Abstract

This article uses a sociology of knowledge approach to discuss the reproduction of inequality within the sociocultural world of clerical workers. A model of a semiotic square is used to analyze the experiences of bored and busy work. Through this analysis of bored and busy work, the author discovered clerical workers' perceptions and activities which were both subordinating and empowering. Clerical workers participate in the process of subordination through bored/busy work. However, they also participate in empowering strategies through not-bored/not-busy work. This sociology of knowledge approach shows that people are not automatons and strengthens our understanding of the social reproduction of inequality as a multi-faceted phenomenon. © 1992, Pacific Sociological Association. All rights reserved.

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Original Publication Date

1-1-1992

DOI of published version

10.2307/1389331

Link to Full Text

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