Class and career choice : motivations, aspirations, identity and mobility for women in paid caring work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    20 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This article explores the significance of class for women’s participation in paid care work. It draws on in-depth interviews with female nurses and social workers in order to understand what motivates women to pursue paid caring careers. Using the theoretical tools of Bourdieu, this article explores the career motivations, mobility experiences and aspirations of differently classed nurses and social workers. The research reveals some significant differences between the women who self-identify as coming from working-class backgrounds and those who self-identify as coming from middle-class backgrounds. The article therefore provides a gender/class analysis of women’s participation in the paid caring field and moves beyond gender analyses of caring work.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)115-132
    Number of pages18
    JournalJournal of Sociology
    Volume46
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Keywords

    • social classes
    • women

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Class and career choice : motivations, aspirations, identity and mobility for women in paid caring work'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this