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table of contents
INDEX
Note: Page numbers in italic refer to illustrative matter.
- abstract labor, 18, 40, 198–99, 226, 234, 240, 241–42, 246
- adulthood markers, 124–28, 289n35
- Affordable Care Act, 121
- ageism, 26, 128
- Agius Vallejo, Jody, 123
- AI (artificial intelligence), 247–48, 252
- Algeria, 267n13
- Allen, Theresa, 263; on consumption, 87, 101, 106; financial situation of, 102, 149, 152, 294n90; on good life, 83, 84; housing situation of, 132–33; on life changes, 101, 174; work pride of, 59
- Amazon, 217, 232, 252–53
- ambiguous adulthood, 124–28
- American Dream, The (Cullen), 85, 86
- American dreams, 107–13; of Anastasia, 85, 110, 115; defined, 77, 84–85; of immigrants, 107–13; of Robert, 10, 11, 20–21; white picket fence as symbol of, 84, 85, 88, 114, 283n43. See also aspirations
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009), 141
- American Rescue Plan (2021), 239
- anti-materialism, 96–97, 112, 114. See also consumption
- Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen, 125
- Aronowitz, Stanley, 12, 216, 244
- aspirations, 82–89. See also American dreams
- automation, 252–53. See also AI (artificial intelligence)
- bad work ethic model, 239–40
- Bakke, Edward Wright, 246, 251, 270n51
- bankruptcy, 75, 90, 101, 106, 284n52
- Basbug, Gokce, 157
- Bauman, Zygmunt, 79
- Bellah, Robert, 204
- Berlant, Lauren, 63
- Bodhi, Jagat, 60, 174–75, 251, 262
- boomerang kids, 124–25
- bossware, 254
- Bourdieu, Pierre, 267n13, 297n30
- Bowler, Kate, 81
- Boylan, Jennifer, 127
- breadwinning: definition of, 160; history in U.S., 158–62; neotraditional dual-earner breadwinning model, 158, 196; neotraditional male breadwinning model, 158; traditional male breadwinning model, 157, 173; universal breadwinner model, 196
- Brown, Mary, 64, 83, 84, 163, 170, 263
- Budd, John, 32
- Buddhist interviewees, 30, 91, 103–4
- “bullshit jobs,” 215
- busyness, 38, 56–57, 70, 71, 258, 259
- Byrne, Rhonda, 82
- calling, occupation as, 11, 18, 42, 44, 204, 225, 231, 304n55. See also occupational passion
- Calvinism, 41, 45, 81
- career advancement, 219–23
- CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, 238, 239
- Carrera, Maria, 83, 112, 163–65, 167, 263
- Carrington, Summer, 59–60, 65, 185, 217, 232, 252–53, 263
- Castañeda, Claudia, x, xi, xiii–xiv
- Catholics, 30
- charitable organizations, 135–37
- childcare responsibilities, 68, 131, 155–56, 158, 178, 191–93, 195
- Childs, Mona, 263; class identity of, 143, 293n77; elder care by, 134, 152; on fun work, 200; on life changes, 94–95; on relationships, 187, 188; work ethic type of, 68
- China, 27–28, 251, 304n41
- Christianity, 6, 7, 8, 29–30. See also prosperity gospel; religious and spiritual beliefs
- Christian prosperity movement. See prosperity gospel
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 30. See also Mormons
- citizenship, 151; cultural, 294n92; social, 137, 153; subjective, 149–50
- class identity, 19; of Carl, 72–77; consumption and, 72–77; of Lisa, 94; of Mona, 143, 293n77; self-sufficiency and, 143; shame and, 75–77, 102–7; Tocqueville on, 77–78; Veblen on, 78; work ethics and, 18–19
- collectivist ideologies, 29–30
- college students, 36–37
- Colombia, 113
- conspicuous consumption of time, 37, 71, 78, 79, 88
- conspicuous leisure, 37
- conspicuous nonconsumption, 88
- consumer society, 79. See also producer society
- consumption: appropriate, 72, 79, 82, 85–87; class identity and, 72–77; excessive, 87–88; less is less, 99–101; less is more, 92–95; meanings of curtailed, 89–101; mixed messages on, 77–82; norms of, 255–56; of time, 37, 71, 78, 79, 88
- contributive justice theories, 246
- COVID-19 pandemic and work: effects on labor market, 26; effects on women’s work, 154–55, 296n8; flexible work and, vii, 67, 196, 253; productivity and, 217; unemployment, 140–41, 238–42
- cultural DNA, 16; critique of, 19–20
- cultural meanings: importance of, 12–15; methods for analyzing, 20–21; theories of, 20. See also work meanings
- cultural model, defined, 21
- cultural standing analysis, 21
- culture of poverty theory, 139–41, 292n63
- culture theories, 19–20
- cyclical unemployment, 25. See also unemployment
- Damaske, Sarah, 156–57, 273n73
- Davis, John, 175–76, 223, 262
- DeLuca, Tony, 172–73, 200, 263
- dependence vs. interdependence, 117, 151–53
- dependent contractors, as category, 249–50
- Depression, 13, 26, 138, 159–60, 270n51. See also economic recessions and depressions
- deserving/undeserving, 137–51
- DiFazio, William, 12, 216, 244
- diligent 9-to-5 work ethic, 17, 38, 57–70, 71, 235
- discrimination, 4, 5, 26. See also workplace harassment
- displaced workers, viii–xii
- divorce, 76, 113, 118, 133, 169, 185–86
- dual-earner breadwinning model, 158, 196. See also breadwinning
- dual-earner couples, 157, 158, 160, 162–70, 195–96
- dual frame of reference of immigrants, 108, 286n72
- Dunn, Tom, 263; family and work situation of, 227–28; on fun work, 200, 305n60; on a good life, 96–97; on government assistance, 153; parental role of, 192; on unemployment benefits, 148
- factory closings, vii, 22–23, 251
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 39
- family labor, history of, 158–60
- family safety net, 122–35
- fears and shame of the formerly wealthy, 75–77, 102–7
- Febvre, Lucien, 63
- feminism, 32, 165, 196, 243
- Ferguson, James, 248–49
- “flawed consumer,” 79
- flexible labor, as concept, 23
- flexible work options, 196, 217, 243–44, 253–55
- food banks, 136–37
- food insecurity, 118, 119
- food stamps (SNAP), 139–41; attitudes about receiving, 11–12, 118, 142–45, 147, 150–51, 293n78; immigrants’ attitudes about receiving, 150–51. See also welfare programs
- Fordism, 22–23, 217
- France, 153
- Franklin, Benjamin, 42, 81, 282n29
- Frase, Peter, 13, 256
- Fraser, Nancy, 117, 196
- Freelancers Union, 250
- frictional unemployment, 24–25, 251–52
- Friedman, Jack, 27–28
- friends, financial support from, 135–36
- fun work, 199–204. See also packaged fun; play; pleasure; workplace socializing
- future meanings of work, 195–97, 235–36, 247–59
- Gallardo, Jackie, 119, 120, 151, 167, 262
- Gamson, William, 85
- Garraty, John, 13, 14
- gender roles: future of work and, 195–97; unemployment and, 21, 34, 153, 154–57; work and, 193–95, 258–59. See also breadwinning; male breadwinner ideology; relationships and work
- General Relief, 133, 140, 148, 149
- Germany, 32
- Gershon, Ilana, 225–26
- ghost work, 253, 255
- Gibson-Graham, J. K., 255, 257
- Giddens, Anthony, 38
- Gift, The (Mauss), 134
- gig economy, 249
- gig workers, 33, 238, 249–51. See also independent contractors
- Gilens, Martin, 139
- Gomez, Gabriella, 32, 262
- good-enough occupation, 204–5, 211–19
- good life: images of, 82–89, 91–92, 96–97, 99–101, 111; work in, xi, 2, 12–13, 35, 217, 244–45, 256–58
- Goodman, Chipper, 261; on fun work, 199; living situation, 126–27; on relationships and unemployment, 182–83, 189; work approach of, 214
- Google, 253
- Gordon, Linda, 117
- Gowens, Pat, 151–52
- Graeber, David, 215
- Gray, Mary, 253, 255
- Great Recession, vii, viii, 25, 26, 29, 89, 107, 120, 128, 142. See also economic recessions and depressions
- Great Resignation, vii
- Guerrero, Lucy, 113, 131, 150, 166–67, 262, 299n55
- Habits of the Heart (Bellah), 204
- happiness, 81, 88, 96–97, 99, 100, 284n54
- harassment. See workplace harassment
- Harper, Natalie, 57, 59, 67, 71, 211–13, 263
- health care and health insurance, 62, 120–21
- Hernandez, Fred, 83, 108, 133, 152, 162, 227, 262
- Hill, Pepper, 263; job search of, 56–57; Puritan work ethic of, 47, 51, 230; on relationships, 183, 187; on shifting work approach, 222–23; on unemployment, 63
- Hindu interviewee, 30
- Ho, Karen, 24
- Hochschild, Arlie, 254
- holiday pay, 245–46
- homelessness, x, 9, 67, 76, 91, 92, 104–5, 107. See also housing concerns and unemployment
- home ownership, 256
- homophobia, 4, 26, 182
- Horn, Daniel, 70, 133, 135, 218, 261
- housing concerns and unemployment, 119–20, 124–28, 133–34. See also homelessness
- Huizinga, Johan, 200
- humanistic psychology, 49
- hustle porn, 37
- Ikeda, Daisaku, 103
- immaterial labor, 214–15, 303n36
- immigrants: American dreams of, 107–13; government benefits and, 149–50, 294n94; population statistics of, x–xi, 266n12; as research participants, xiv; return migration of, 107; work ethic and, 259
- income inequality, 154–55. See also gender roles
- independent contractors, 14, 33, 237, 246, 249–51
- individualistic ideologies, 28–29, 117, 134, 146, 229, 305n62
- industrial capitalism, 22–23, 63–65
- interdependence, 133–35, 151–53, 255. See also reciprocity
- Israel, 56
- Jackson, Paula, 263; on good life, 88; on husband’s unemployment, 174, 175; life changes of, 97–99, 104, 106
- Jahoda, Marie, 13, 60, 63
- Jakes, T. D., 81
- James, Caroline, 51, 91, 176–77, 261
- Jefferson, Anna, 72
- Jeske, Christine, 35
- Jewish interviewees, 30
- Jimenez, Abel, 47, 51, 52, 203, 261
- job insecurity, xii–xiii, 24. See also displaced workers; precarious work; unemployment
- job search, 121–22; class and, 141; diligent 9-to-5 work ethic and, 68–70; good-enough occupation approach and, 212; living-to-work ethic and, 53–57; moving up in a career approach and, 221; occupational passion and, 227; work-is-work approach and, 209. See also unemployment
- Johnson, Mark, 42
- Jones, Della, 64, 136, 152, 261, 290n48
- Jones, Ichabod, 60, 65, 83, 145, 262
- Joyner, Alice, 261; family and work situation of, 128–29, 130–31, 226; on work identity, 227, 257
- labor: as abstract, 198–99; as concrete, 234. See also abstract labor; immaterial labor
- laborist Left policies, 35, 242–43, 250. See also post-work Left policies
- labor shortages, 241
- labor unions, 246, 250
- La dama de abril, 113, 150, 206–7, 262
- Lakoff, George, 42
- Lane, Carrie, 24, 156
- Laos, 112
- law of attraction, 82
- “learn-earn-leisure lockstep,” 257
- Leibfried, Stephan, 138
- Lennon, Sam, 263; on consumption, 95–96; on defining work, 32; financial support from family of, 130; on food banks, 136–37; on fun work, 200; work approach of, 216
- León, Monserrat, 203, 263
- Li, Tania, 248–49
- libertarianism, 244
- living-to-work ethic, 1, 45–57, 70–71; future of, 257–58; job search and, 53–57; of Lisa, 45–47; as term, 17, 18, 38; Weber on, 41–42. See also Puritan work ethic; work ethics, overview
- long-term unemployment, 25–28. See also unemployment
- Longwolf, Earl Apache, 190, 224, 226, 305n60
- Lopez, Ann, 261; aspirations of, 88; on financial equality with partner, 185; food stamps and, 144–45; on fun work, 232; on lack of belonging, 67; on religious identity, 30; on self-sufficiency, 118, 184–85; on staying busy, 70; work and financial situation of, 142–43
- Los Angeles County, California, vii–viii
- Love, Magenta, 188, 262
- Luther, Martin, 44
- Mains, Daniel, 131, 252
- male breadwinner ideology, 157–62, 170–80, 190. See also breadwinning; gender roles; primary breadwinning women
- March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 242
- Marienthal (Jahoda), 13
- marriage rates, 184
- Marshall, T. H., 137
- Marx, Karl, 199
- masculinity, 4, 11, 158, 193–95, 259. See also gender roles; male breadwinner ideology
- Maslow, Abraham, 49
- material needs, 118–22
- Mathews, Carl, 261; childhood experience of, 106; consumption and class identity of, 72–77, 81–82; on life changes, 104–5; on poverty, 75, 106–7, 148; religious faith of, 74–75; on work, 206, 207–8
- Mauss, Marcel, 134, 136, 153
- Mayer, Marissa, 37
- McCarthy, Stacie, 263; financial and housing situation of, 134; Puritan work ethic of, 47, 71; on unemployment and laziness, 63; work ethic of, 48
- McDaniel, Linda, 68, 165–66, 178, 200, 262
- McKnight, ReNé, 8–9, 263; on church support, 135; financial situation of, 119, 149, 152, 191; on good life, 88; housing situation of, 31; religious faith of, 29; self-sufficiency of, 11, 12, 125, 183–84; work ethic types of, 18, 40
- McKowen, Kelly, 153
- Medicaid, 5, 121, 150
- meditation, 49
- Meneley, Anne, 80, 88
- mental health, 8, 9
- Metaphors We Live By (Lakoff and Johnson), 42
- methods, ix–xi, 20–21
- Middle-aged and older job seekers, 26, 128–35, 257. See also ageism
- Milner, Robert, 10–12, 263; on consumption, 16, 93; financial and relationship situation of, 171–72; on fun work, 18, 200, 214–15, 232–33; on good life, 20–21; on job search, 68, 69; religious faith of, 29–30; on simplicity, 31, 95, 96; work ethic type of, 39–40, 58; on work hours, 50
- Miner, Horace, 200–201
- misclassified independent contractors, 249–50
- misery poker, 274n2
- Modigliani, Andre, 85
- Moen, Phyllis, 257
- Montgomery, Elizabeth, 261; childhood poverty of, 106; divorce of, 186; on fun work, 200, 219–21, 232; on a good life, 88, 277n51; job search of, 55, 69; Puritan work ethic of, 47; self-evaluation of work ethic, 52–53
- moral duty of work, 256–58. See also Protestant work ethics
- Mormons, 6, 125. See also Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Muller, Mickey, 64, 132, 141, 230, 263
- multigenerational households, 124–35
- Murphy, Krystal, 59, 65, 185–86, 262
- Musk, Elon, 37
- Myers, Robert, 200–201
- Navarro, Isabel, 4–6, 11–12, 30, 203, 262; financial situation of, 183; on social welfare programs, 150–51; work ethic type of, 40, 218
- Navarro, José, 216, 218, 262
- New Age spirituality, 30–31, 49, 82, 115
- New Dream (organization), 81
- Newman, Katherine, 124, 181
- Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act, 109
- Nichiren Buddhism, 103
- Norway, 153, 272n67, 279n92
- occupational approaches, 204–5; good-enough occupation, 211–19; moving up in a career, 219–23; occupational passion, 204, 223–28, 304n55; work-is-work, 205–11
- occupational passion, 204, 223–28, 304n55
- Occupy movement, ix, 29, 148
- Ohanian, Alexis, 37
- Opportunity America organization, 242–43
- overtime, 50–53, 245
- packaged fun, 208
- paid vacation, 245–46
- Paiz, Jorge, 65, 109, 170, 193, 262
- parenthood, 6, 7, 8, 50, 130, 155–56, 168–70, 190–92, 196–97, 259
- parenting leave, 254
- parents, financial support of, 122–24
- Park, Seo Young, 254
- passion, occupation as, 204, 223–28, 304n55. See also calling, occupation as
- Perls, Fritz, 49
- Phouphan, Kham Sy, 91, 103, 112, 262
- play, 1, 216. See also fun work
- pleasure, 1, 229–31. See also fun work; small work pleasures
- Portes, Alejandro, 107
- positive thinking, xiii, 11, 20, 31, 48
- post-work Left policies, 12, 35, 243–46, 250, 309n40. See also laborist Left policies
- post-work utopia/dystopia, 13
- Potuchek, Jean, 160–61, 162, 165
- Pratt, Michael, 230–31
- precarious work, 248–51
- pride in work, 59–60
- primary breadwinning women, 170–80. See also breadwinning; male breadwinner ideology
- Problem with Work, The (Weeks), 36, 243
- producer society, 79. See also consumer society
- productivist work ethics. See Protestant work ethics
- prosperity gospel, 9, 81, 115
- Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, The (Weber), 40–45, 71
- Protestant work ethics, 1, 275n14; applying values to others with, 61–63, 226; terms defined, 17, 38; two kinds of, 17–18, 38, 44–45; Weber on, 17–18, 40–45, 72, 276n43. See also work ethics, overview
- psychological anthropology, 20
- Puritan work ethic, 43–45; defined, 17–18; inaccurate as description of US Americans, 1, 231–32, 246. See also living-to-work ethic; work centrality; work ethics, overview
- purpose in life from work, 60–61
- race and diverse work meanings, 34
- racism, 4, 26, 139–40, 218
- Ramos, Miriam, 65, 191–92, 223–24, 228, 263
- Rao, Aliya Hamid, 157
- rational choice work decision model, 240
- reciprocity, 133–35, 153, 255. See also interdependence
- regular work schedules, 63–66
- relationships and work: dual-earner couples, 157, 158, 162–70, 195–96; male breadwinner ideology, 157–62, 170–80, 190; primary breadwinning women, 170–80; same-sex couples and, 180–82, 197; singles, 182–93. See also gender roles
- religious and spiritual beliefs, 12, 29–31; of Ann, 30; of Carl, 74; consumption and, 81–82, 98–101; of Katarina, 6, 7; of Phoenix, 103–4; of ReNé, 8, 9; of Robert, 10–11; of Tom, 228
- religious communities, 6, 30, 135–36
- remittances, 111–12, 131
- remote work, 196, 217, 218, 236, 253–54
- research overview, 33–35, 203
- resource exchange, 151–53, 255
- return migration, 107
- Reyes, Alfredo, 110–11, 112, 113, 261
- Rises, Phoenix, 263; financial situation of, 129–30, 132; on health care, 121; life changes of, 87, 102–4, 106; on work identity, 227
- Robinson, Rebecca, 132, 225, 229, 231, 263
- Romania, 27–28, 251
- Romero, Charlie Mike, 57, 59, 62, 145–46, 149, 261
- Roose, Kevin, 252
- Rose, Lisa, 262; on career advancement, 223; on class identity, 94; on consumption, 95; job search of, 55–56, 69; on relationship and unemployment, 177–78; unemployment and work ethic of, 45–46, 48, 51, 222; on work satisfaction, 230, 305n63
- Rosen, Ellen, 161
- RTO (return to office), vii
- Rue, Celeste, 65, 83, 184, 199, 215, 230, 261
- rugged individualism, 16, 117, 134
- Rumbaut, Rubén, 107
- safety net, 122–35
- Sahlins, Marshall, 267n11
- Salander, Auguste, 92, 261, 284n53
- Salas, Feliciano, 112, 123, 151, 211, 215–16, 261
- same-sex couples and work, 180–82, 197
- Santelli, Rick, 80
- Schor, Juliet, 88
- Schwartz, Barry, 240, 301n5
- Second Machine Age, The (Brynjolfsson and McAfee), 13
- Secret, The (Byrne), 82
- Segura, Luis, 111–12, 123, 207, 211, 262
- self-blame, 28–29
- self-care, 29, 46, 48–50
- self-employment, 33, 249–51. See also independent contractors
- self-growth, 48–50
- self-sufficiency, 117–18, 125, 152, 153, 183, 255, 257
- self-worth, 51, 193
- shame, 75–77, 102–7, 252
- Sharone, Ofar, 56, 157
- Shklar, Judith, 16
- short-term unemployment, 24–25. See also unemployment
- singles and unemployment, 158, 182–93
- small work pleasures, 214–17. See also pleasure
- Smith, Stephen, 263; life changes of, 104, 106; on unemployment, 29, 284n58; work and financial situation of, 168–69, 221; work ethic type of, 229–30
- social citizenship, 137, 153
- socialism, 27–28, 153, 251
- social welfare. See welfare programs
- Soka Gakkai Buddhism, 103
- South Africa, 28
- South Korea, 254
- Spelling, Katarina, 6–7, 262; on occupational passion, 11; religious faith of, 12, 29; self-sufficiency of, 125, 152; work and financial situation of, 164; work approach of, 209–10, 212–14, 215, 216; work ethic type of, 18, 229
- spirituality. See religious and spiritual beliefs
- standard employment, 249
- stay-busy ethic, 38, 56–57, 70, 258, 259
- structural unemployment, 22
- suicide and suicidal ideation, 8, 23, 31, 160, 191, 192, 248
- Suri, Siddharth, 253, 255
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), 139, 140; attitudes about receiving, 148-49; immigrants’ attitudes about receiving, 150–51
- Tang, Anastasia, 261; on after-hours work events, 209; on American dream, 85, 110, 115; life and economic circumstances of, 109–10, 112, 122–23; on relationship and unemployment, 178–80; on work-life balance, 49–50
- Taylor, Jake, 262; on good life, 84, 85; living situation of, 125–26; on masculinity, 194; on productivity, 62; on unemployment, 87; work approach of, 210–11, 217
- Thi, Ginger, 262; on fun at work, 208, 209; on living situation, 91, 92, 149; on work, 60, 205–6
- Thompson, Derek, 15, 247
- Thompson, E. P., 63–64
- tight labor market, 26
- time work, 69
- Tocqueville, Alexis de, 14–15, 77–78, 106, 135, 199
- Toppes, Charles, 87, 167–68, 220, 261
- Townsend, Nicholas, 160
- Trump, Donald, 242
- Uber, 250
- unemployed: negative perceptions of, 4, 62, 63, 146
- unemployment: assistance benefits, 140–41, 145–48, 149–50, 236–42, 309n31; COVID-19 pandemic and, 140–41, 238–42; defined, 32–33; diligent 9-to-5 work ethic and, 57–59; Great Recession and, 25–26, 29, 89, 128; living-to-work ethic and, 45–48; long-term, 25–28; masculinity and, 4, 11, 158, 193–95; material needs and, 118–22; and self-care, 29, 46; self-employment and, 237, 306n8; and social isolation, 66–68; social theorists on, 13–14, 242–43, 250; statistics on, 236; types of, 21–28. See also gender roles; job insecurity; job search; precarious work
- unidirectional flow of financial support in U.S. families, 123
- universal breadwinner model, 196
- universal caregiver model, 196
- Wade, Jim, 262; on church support, 136; on modest living, 85–87, 99–100; on stigma of unemployment, 63, 147, 152; on work ethic, 57, 58, 68
- Walker, Marcus, 135, 152, 193–94, 262, 299n60
- Walley, Charles, 23
- Walley, Christine, 23
- warehouse work, 217, 252–53
- Washington, Amber, 64, 147, 183, 187–88, 261
- Weber, Max, 17–18, 36, 40–45, 72, 257
- Weeks, Kathi, 36, 40, 43, 242, 243, 244
- welfare programs, 5, 12, 19, 34, 62, 135–51. See also food stamps; TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- wellness, 48–50
- West, Terrance, 2–4, 263; masculinity and, 194, 195; productivism of, 11, 16–17, 61; on racism at work, 60, 218; on regular work schedule, 64–65; relationship and financial situation of, 181–82; religious faith of, 30; work ethic type of, 18, 229; on work events, 208–9; on work satisfaction, 59, 230
- White House Council of Economic Advisors, 19
- white picket fence symbolism, 84, 85, 88, 114, 283n43
- Wieshlow, Heather, 54
- Wolfenstein, Martha, 232
- Women at Work (organization), 6
- women in work, 6, 7, 8, 15, 154–57
- work, defined, 31–32
- workaholism: defined, 17, 49, 51; vs. positive work engagement, 51–53; reputation of Americans for, 16, 235
- work centrality, 47
- work engagement, 51–53. See also workaholism
- work ethics, overview, 17–19. See also Protestant work ethics; Puritan work ethic; working-to-live ethic; working-to-live well ethic
- work from home (WFH), vii, 67, 217, 253–54
- work ideologies, 242–46
- working long hours, reasons for, 50–53
- working-to-live ethic, 17, 42–43, 116–19; family safety net and, 122–35; socially defined life necessities and, 119–22; welfare programs and, 137–51. See also adulthood markers; boomerang kids; friends, financial support from; religious communities; work ethics, overview
- working-to-live well ethic, 17; American dream and, 77; class identity and, 73, 77–79; religious and spiritual beliefs and, 74, 81–82; single-family home and, 82–85. See also consumption; work ethics, overview
- work-is-work approach, 205–11
- work-life balance, 49–50, 65–66, 156
- work meanings, vii–xiii, 1–2; culture and, 12–21; as fun, 199–204; future, 195–97, 235–36; in a good life, 256–58; missing, 233–34. See also abstract labor
- workplace harassment, 4, 5, 60, 218
- workplace socializing, 66–67, 216–17, 253–54
- work pride, 59–60
- workweek regulations, 50–51, 245
- Wrzesniewski, Amy, 204, 219