IDS 101: Work: Making a Life

Work: Making a Life Making a Living

Work is more than a way to make a living; it’s also a big part of life. What makes for a good career or even just an adequate work-life? The answers have changed throughout history, differ across cultures and societies, and vary by individual perspective. Some people’s jobs define their personal identities, while for others work is just a routine part of adulthood. Some endure drudgery for higher pay or simply to make ends meet. Some people pursue long-term career ambitions while others, willingly or not, bounce from job to job or shift occupations repeatedly. Social distinctions - gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, health status, and generation – condition the experience of work. The occupational structure is ever-changing and can seem arbitrary, but its intricacies powerfully shape work-life. Some jobs are prestigious or lucrative or both, while other work is less respected or low-paid, even when it is essential to society. What factors make-up working lives and cause them to differ? Do people craft good work-lives by choosing their endeavors thoughtfully and taking pride in their work, or does it depend much more on circumstances and luck? Do public policies and social conventions determine work-life’s patterns and value, or are jobs intrinsically better or worse? How have the basic features of work-life changed across history, and will current trends related to automation and artificial intelligence systems, job-hopping and the gig economy make the goal of a planned, coherent career obsolete? Our colloquium will explore these questions by reading, speaking, and writing about a variety of texts - social science studies, journalism, ethnographic interviews, and documentary films.

        Course taught by: Greg Felker                                      Colloquium Associate: Sean Olson

2 images of tired employees working late at night retrieved from website = https://pikwizard.com/s/photo/hazardous+work+place/.