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Coerced: Work Under Threat of Punishment
What do prisoner laborers, graduate students, welfare workers, and college athletes have in common? According to sociologist Erin Hatton, they are all part of a growing workforce of coerced laborers.
Coerced explores this world of coerced labor through an unexpected and compelling comparison of these four groups of workers, for whom a different definition of "employment" reigns supreme—one where workplace protections do not apply and employers wield expansive punitive power, far beyond the ability to hire and fire. Because such arrangements are common across the economy, Hatton argues that coercion—as well as precarity—is a defining feature of work in America today.
Theoretically forceful yet vivid and gripping to read, Coerced compels the reader to reevaluate contemporary dynamics of work, pushing beyond concepts like "career" and "gig work." Through this bold analysis, Hatton offers a trenchant window into this world of work from the perspective of those who toil within it—and who are developing the tools needed to push back against it.
Coerced explores this world of coerced labor through an unexpected and compelling comparison of these four groups of workers, for whom a different definition of "employment" reigns supreme—one where workplace protections do not apply and employers wield expansive punitive power, far beyond the ability to hire and fire. Because such arrangements are common across the economy, Hatton argues that coercion—as well as precarity—is a defining feature of work in America today.
Theoretically forceful yet vivid and gripping to read, Coerced compels the reader to reevaluate contemporary dynamics of work, pushing beyond concepts like "career" and "gig work." Through this bold analysis, Hatton offers a trenchant window into this world of work from the perspective of those who toil within it—and who are developing the tools needed to push back against it.
- GenresSociologyNonfictionLabor
304 pages, Hardcover
Published March 24, 2020
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159 people want to read
About the author
Erin Hatton
7 books3 followersErin Hatton is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University at Buffalo.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 27, 2020
The author of The Temp Economy hits it out of the park again. This is really interesting stuff, and tackles the intersection of "good" and "bad" jobs really well.
Also I think it worth noting that making myself read during lockdown has been incredibly difficult--until I picked up this book. This one, I charged through and enjoyed.
Also I think it worth noting that making myself read during lockdown has been incredibly difficult--until I picked up this book. This one, I charged through and enjoyed.
Displaying 1 of 1 review