This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically ind... more This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically indicated cesarean section childbirths (CS). Focusing on the structure-agency dichotomy, the research is guided by Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration used in the context of the medicalization framework in order to analyze elements of personal choice and medical jurisdiction in childbearing methods. Quantitative analysis of secondary data and a thematic content analysis of Internet forums are conducted in order to analyze women’s perceptions of autonomy and constraint in their childbearing decisions and outcomes. The findings suggest that the polarization between second- and third wave feminist critiques on medical intervention in childbirth, and between structure and agency, impede our understanding of the complex phenomenon. Applying structuration theory to the medicalization framework helps to work through this polarization, further lending support to third-way feminism.
America faces new sets of challenges in solving how markets will be able to create jobs for a gro... more America faces new sets of challenges in solving how markets will be able to create jobs for a growing economy, automation, and complex society. Proposals to alleviate this issue have concerned generating incentives for American companies to discontinue manufacturing goods overseas, while others propose universal incomes that they argue are inevitable for the future of the American economy. These concerns for employment trends, while significant in their own right, fail to address how mismatched labor will impact the economy. Further, the imagery surrounding mismatch veils the truth of what everyday Americans face both in their experiences and expectations for work. How will mismatch work experiences impact the organizations for which sustain these markets? This dissertation is an ethnographic study of mismatched workers, and the impact it has on both workers and organizations. Two different types of mismatched workers emerge in this study: misfits who seek job match, and resigned workers who embrace career change. Whether they embrace or resist their work outcomes shapes their orientations to work while employed at the organization. This study is a case of how mismatched work can be inefficient for both organizations and workers. For misfits, the experience of being both a mismatched worker and a job seeker does not allow time to pursue goals outside of their full-time employment. Instead of resigning to sales work, the misfit worker seeks to bridge together their goals with their job, resulting in a redefining of work tasks that benefit their personal career gain. The impact that the worker has on the organization is tremendous, resulting in a loss of employee loyalty (i.e., high employee turnover) as well as less productive time on organizational tasks. In the case of this study, the organization failed to maintain among the competition because of recurrent hiring patterns that produced mismatch. This kind of labor does not allow individuals to apply their desired skills and interests to a process that seek to maintain, while they influence the experience of work for others at the organization.
Illness is a ubiquitous experience in all societies. Until the past two decades, illness remained... more Illness is a ubiquitous experience in all societies. Until the past two decades, illness remained largely a private experience. With the development of the Internet, especially what has been termed Web 2.0, with interactive websites, illness has become increasingly a public experience. Vehicles like bulletin boards, chat rooms, listservs, electronic support groups, and more recently social media facilitate thousands of online communities where individuals with illness share information, interaction, experience, and advocacy. With the advent of social media, communication has increased and brought new challenges for online interaction. It is likely that the transformation of illness from a largely private to an increasingly public experience is a revolutionary change that is here to stay, with numerous social consequences.
In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of lon... more In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of long-term unemployment, which are often accompanied by self-devaluation and the internalization of stigma. The existing literature consistently finds that dominant self-help career support institutions activate individualistic cultural narratives that obscure the shared and structural determinants of career challenges and often intensify the self-stigmatization and emotional toll of long-term unemployment. This paper examines an alternative approach to support based on sociologically-informed discourses and practices. Drawing on in-depth interviews of long-term unemployed white-collar workers who received such support we explore whether and how sociologically-informed support practices can reduce self-stigmatization and help workers confront the challenges posed by long-term unemployment. We show that self-stigmatization is not an inevitable outcome of unemployment in the American cultural context, and that the application of a sociologically-informed approach to support can activate narratives focused on the shared and structural roots of unemployment. The activation of such narratives counteracts the debilitating internalization of stigma and generates what we call a Bre-valuation^ of the self. Beyond long-term unemployment , the findings in this paper suggest broader benefits to American workers from institutions that foster a sociological imagination for contextualizing employment-related challenges.
In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of lon... more In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of long-term unemployment, which are often accompanied by self-devaluation and the internalization of stigma. The existing literature consistently finds that dominant self-help career support institutions activate individualistic cultural narratives that obscure the shared and structural determinants of career challenges and often intensify the self-stigmatization and emotional toll of long-term unemployment. This paper examines an alternative approach to support based on sociologically-informed discourses and practices. Drawing on in-depth interviews of long-term unemployed white-collar workers who received such support we explore whether and how sociologically-informed support practices can reduce self-stigmatization and help workers confront the challenges posed by long-term unemployment. We show that self-stigmatization is not an inevitable outcome of unemployment in the American cultural context, and that the application of a sociologically-informed approach to support can activate narratives focused on the shared and structural roots of unemployment. The activation of such narratives counteracts the debilitating internalization of stigma and generates what we call a “re-valuation” of the self. Beyond long-term unemployment, the findings in this paper suggest broader benefits to American workers from institutions that foster a sociological imagination for contextualizing employment-related challenges.
This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically ind... more This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically indicated cesarean section childbirths (CS). Focusing on the structure-agency dichotomy, the research is guided by Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration used in the context of the medicalization framework in order to analyze elements of personal choice and medical jurisdiction in childbearing methods. Quantitative analysis of secondary data and a thematic content analysis of Internet forums are conducted in order to analyze women’s perceptions of autonomy and constraint in their childbearing decisions and outcomes. The findings suggest that the polarization between second- and third wave feminist critiques on medical intervention in childbirth, and between structure and agency, impede our understanding of the complex phenomenon. Applying structuration theory to the medicalization framework helps to work through this polarization, further lending support to third-way feminism.
This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically ind... more This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically indicated cesarean section childbirths (CS). Focusing on the structure-agency dichotomy, the research is guided by Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration used in the context of the medicalization framework in order to analyze elements of personal choice and medical jurisdiction in childbearing methods. Quantitative analysis of secondary data and a thematic content analysis of Internet forums are conducted in order to analyze women’s perceptions of autonomy and constraint in their childbearing decisions and outcomes. The findings suggest that the polarization between second- and third wave feminist critiques on medical intervention in childbirth, and between structure and agency, impede our understanding of the complex phenomenon. Applying structuration theory to the medicalization framework helps to work through this polarization, further lending support to third-way feminism.
America faces new sets of challenges in solving how markets will be able to create jobs for a gro... more America faces new sets of challenges in solving how markets will be able to create jobs for a growing economy, automation, and complex society. Proposals to alleviate this issue have concerned generating incentives for American companies to discontinue manufacturing goods overseas, while others propose universal incomes that they argue are inevitable for the future of the American economy. These concerns for employment trends, while significant in their own right, fail to address how mismatched labor will impact the economy. Further, the imagery surrounding mismatch veils the truth of what everyday Americans face both in their experiences and expectations for work. How will mismatch work experiences impact the organizations for which sustain these markets? This dissertation is an ethnographic study of mismatched workers, and the impact it has on both workers and organizations. Two different types of mismatched workers emerge in this study: misfits who seek job match, and resigned workers who embrace career change. Whether they embrace or resist their work outcomes shapes their orientations to work while employed at the organization. This study is a case of how mismatched work can be inefficient for both organizations and workers. For misfits, the experience of being both a mismatched worker and a job seeker does not allow time to pursue goals outside of their full-time employment. Instead of resigning to sales work, the misfit worker seeks to bridge together their goals with their job, resulting in a redefining of work tasks that benefit their personal career gain. The impact that the worker has on the organization is tremendous, resulting in a loss of employee loyalty (i.e., high employee turnover) as well as less productive time on organizational tasks. In the case of this study, the organization failed to maintain among the competition because of recurrent hiring patterns that produced mismatch. This kind of labor does not allow individuals to apply their desired skills and interests to a process that seek to maintain, while they influence the experience of work for others at the organization.
Illness is a ubiquitous experience in all societies. Until the past two decades, illness remained... more Illness is a ubiquitous experience in all societies. Until the past two decades, illness remained largely a private experience. With the development of the Internet, especially what has been termed Web 2.0, with interactive websites, illness has become increasingly a public experience. Vehicles like bulletin boards, chat rooms, listservs, electronic support groups, and more recently social media facilitate thousands of online communities where individuals with illness share information, interaction, experience, and advocacy. With the advent of social media, communication has increased and brought new challenges for online interaction. It is likely that the transformation of illness from a largely private to an increasingly public experience is a revolutionary change that is here to stay, with numerous social consequences.
In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of lon... more In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of long-term unemployment, which are often accompanied by self-devaluation and the internalization of stigma. The existing literature consistently finds that dominant self-help career support institutions activate individualistic cultural narratives that obscure the shared and structural determinants of career challenges and often intensify the self-stigmatization and emotional toll of long-term unemployment. This paper examines an alternative approach to support based on sociologically-informed discourses and practices. Drawing on in-depth interviews of long-term unemployed white-collar workers who received such support we explore whether and how sociologically-informed support practices can reduce self-stigmatization and help workers confront the challenges posed by long-term unemployment. We show that self-stigmatization is not an inevitable outcome of unemployment in the American cultural context, and that the application of a sociologically-informed approach to support can activate narratives focused on the shared and structural roots of unemployment. The activation of such narratives counteracts the debilitating internalization of stigma and generates what we call a Bre-valuation^ of the self. Beyond long-term unemployment , the findings in this paper suggest broader benefits to American workers from institutions that foster a sociological imagination for contextualizing employment-related challenges.
In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of lon... more In recent years workers in the United States have become increasingly vulnerable to spells of long-term unemployment, which are often accompanied by self-devaluation and the internalization of stigma. The existing literature consistently finds that dominant self-help career support institutions activate individualistic cultural narratives that obscure the shared and structural determinants of career challenges and often intensify the self-stigmatization and emotional toll of long-term unemployment. This paper examines an alternative approach to support based on sociologically-informed discourses and practices. Drawing on in-depth interviews of long-term unemployed white-collar workers who received such support we explore whether and how sociologically-informed support practices can reduce self-stigmatization and help workers confront the challenges posed by long-term unemployment. We show that self-stigmatization is not an inevitable outcome of unemployment in the American cultural context, and that the application of a sociologically-informed approach to support can activate narratives focused on the shared and structural roots of unemployment. The activation of such narratives counteracts the debilitating internalization of stigma and generates what we call a “re-valuation” of the self. Beyond long-term unemployment, the findings in this paper suggest broader benefits to American workers from institutions that foster a sociological imagination for contextualizing employment-related challenges.
This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically ind... more This is an exploratory study of women’s childbearing decisions and outcomes in non- medically indicated cesarean section childbirths (CS). Focusing on the structure-agency dichotomy, the research is guided by Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration used in the context of the medicalization framework in order to analyze elements of personal choice and medical jurisdiction in childbearing methods. Quantitative analysis of secondary data and a thematic content analysis of Internet forums are conducted in order to analyze women’s perceptions of autonomy and constraint in their childbearing decisions and outcomes. The findings suggest that the polarization between second- and third wave feminist critiques on medical intervention in childbirth, and between structure and agency, impede our understanding of the complex phenomenon. Applying structuration theory to the medicalization framework helps to work through this polarization, further lending support to third-way feminism.
Uploads
Papers by Alexandria Vasquez
concerned generating incentives for American companies to discontinue manufacturing goods
overseas, while others propose universal incomes that they argue are inevitable for the future of
the American economy. These concerns for employment trends, while significant in their own
right, fail to address how mismatched labor will impact the economy. Further, the imagery
surrounding mismatch veils the truth of what everyday Americans face both in their
experiences and expectations for work. How will mismatch work experiences impact the
organizations for which sustain these markets?
This dissertation is an ethnographic study of mismatched workers, and the impact it has on both workers and organizations. Two different types of mismatched workers emerge in this study: misfits who seek job match, and resigned workers who embrace career change. Whether they embrace or resist their work outcomes shapes their orientations to work while employed at the organization. This study is a case of how mismatched work can be inefficient for both
organizations and workers. For misfits, the experience of being both a mismatched worker and a job seeker does not allow time to pursue goals outside of their full-time employment. Instead of resigning to sales work, the misfit worker seeks to bridge together their goals with their job,
resulting in a redefining of work tasks that benefit their personal career gain. The impact that the
worker has on the organization is tremendous, resulting in a loss of employee loyalty (i.e., high
employee turnover) as well as less productive time on organizational tasks. In the case of this
study, the organization failed to maintain among the competition because of recurrent hiring
patterns that produced mismatch. This kind of labor does not allow individuals to apply their
desired skills and interests to a process that seek to maintain, while they influence the experience of work for others at the organization.
concerned generating incentives for American companies to discontinue manufacturing goods
overseas, while others propose universal incomes that they argue are inevitable for the future of
the American economy. These concerns for employment trends, while significant in their own
right, fail to address how mismatched labor will impact the economy. Further, the imagery
surrounding mismatch veils the truth of what everyday Americans face both in their
experiences and expectations for work. How will mismatch work experiences impact the
organizations for which sustain these markets?
This dissertation is an ethnographic study of mismatched workers, and the impact it has on both workers and organizations. Two different types of mismatched workers emerge in this study: misfits who seek job match, and resigned workers who embrace career change. Whether they embrace or resist their work outcomes shapes their orientations to work while employed at the organization. This study is a case of how mismatched work can be inefficient for both
organizations and workers. For misfits, the experience of being both a mismatched worker and a job seeker does not allow time to pursue goals outside of their full-time employment. Instead of resigning to sales work, the misfit worker seeks to bridge together their goals with their job,
resulting in a redefining of work tasks that benefit their personal career gain. The impact that the
worker has on the organization is tremendous, resulting in a loss of employee loyalty (i.e., high
employee turnover) as well as less productive time on organizational tasks. In the case of this
study, the organization failed to maintain among the competition because of recurrent hiring
patterns that produced mismatch. This kind of labor does not allow individuals to apply their
desired skills and interests to a process that seek to maintain, while they influence the experience of work for others at the organization.