About the book
The Great Recession punished American workers, leaving many underemployed or trapped in jobs that did not provide the income or opportunities they needed. Moreover, the gap between the wealthy and the poor had widened in past decades as mobility remained stubbornly unchanged. Against this deepening economic divide, a dominant cultural narrative took root: immobility, especially for the working class, is driven by shifts in demand for labor. In this context, and with right-to-work policies proliferating nationwide, workers are encouraged to avoid government dependency by arming themselves with education and training.
Drawing on archival material and interviews with African American women transit workers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Katrinell Davis grapples with our understanding of mobility as it intersects with race and gender in the postindustrial and post–civil rights United States. Considering the consequences of declining working conditions within the public transit workplace of Alameda County, Davis illustrates how worker experience — on and off the job — has been undermined by workplace norms and administrative practices designed to address flagging worker commitment and morale. Providing a comprehensive account of how political, social, and economic factors work together to shape the culture of opportunity in a postindustrial workplace, she shows how government manpower policies, administrative policies, and drastic shifts in unionization have influenced the prospects of low-skilled workers.
Editions of Hard Work Is Not Enough
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469630472
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469630489
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469630502
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890849076
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469630496
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890849069
Read an Excerpt
The Great Recession punished American workers, leaving many underemployed or trapped in jobs that did not provide the income or opportunities they needed. Moreover, the gap between the wealthy and the poor had widened in past decades as mobility remained stubbornly unchanged. Against this deepening economic divide, a dominant cultural narrative took root: immobility, especially for the working class, is driven by shifts in demand for labor. In this context, and with right-to-work policies proliferating nationwide, workers are encouraged to avoid government dependency by arming themselves with education and training.
Drawing on archival material and interviews with African American women transit workers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Katrinell Davis grapples with our understanding of mobility as it intersects with race and gender in the postindustrial and post–civil rights United States. Considering the consequences of declining working conditions within the public transit workplace of Alameda County, Davis illustrates how worker experience — on and off the job — has been undermined by workplace norms and administrative practices designed to address flagging worker commitment and morale. Providing a comprehensive account of how political, social, and economic factors work together to shape the culture of opportunity in a postindustrial workplace, she shows how government manpower policies, administrative policies, and drastic shifts in unionization have influenced the prospects of low-skilled workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hard Work Is Not Enough about?
The Great Recession punished American workers, leaving many underemployed or trapped in jobs that did not provide the income or opportunities they needed. Moreover, the gap between the wealthy and the poor had widened in past decades as mobility remained stubbornly unchanged. Against this deepening economic divide, a dominant cultural narrative took root: immobility, especially for the working class, is driven by shifts in demand for labor. In this context, and with right-to-work policies proliferating nationwide, workers are encouraged to avoid government dependency by arming themselves with education and training.
Drawing on archival material and interviews with African American women transit workers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Katrinell Davis grapples with our understanding of mobility as it intersects with race and gender in the postindustrial and post–civil rights United States. Considering the consequences of declining working conditions within the public transit workplace of Alameda County, Davis illustrates how worker experience — on and off the job — has been undermined by workplace norms and administrative practices designed to address flagging worker commitment and morale. Providing a comprehensive account of how political, social, and economic factors work together to shape the culture of opportunity in a postindustrial workplace, she shows how government manpower policies, administrative policies, and drastic shifts in unionization have influenced the prospects of low-skilled workers.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Hard Work Is Not Enough?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Urban communities / city life
Where can I read a sample of Hard Work Is Not Enough?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469630472
How long is Hard Work Is Not Enough and how many pages does it have?
Hard Work Is Not Enough has 196 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Hard Work Is Not Enough?
Katrinell M. Davis
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Hard Work Is Not Enough is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469630472) and paperback(ISBN 9781469630489) and ebook(ISBN 9781469630502) and ebook(ISBN 9798890849076) and ebook(ISBN 9781469630496) and pdf(ISBN 9798890849069)
Where can I buy Hard Work Is Not Enough online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Hard Work Is Not Enough from below
Where can I buy Hard Work Is Not Enough?