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Stuck in the middle with who? The class identity of knowledge workers

Author

Listed:
  • Abigail Marks

    (Heriot-Watt University, a.marks@hw.ac.uk)

  • Chris Baldry

    (University of Stirling, c.j.baldry@stir.ac.uk)

Abstract

The coming of the information age has been associated with widespread social transformation and new, or dissolved, class structures. Central to this claim is the emergence of `knowledge workers' including information technology professionals. While previous discussion has focused on the paradox faced by IT workers as both professionals and employees, this article, using empirical data from five software organizations in Scotland, examines their perceptions of class structure and their own class position. It finds that participants clearly retained varying class models of society but expressed conflict between their own self-rated class identity and that which they awarded to their occupation and profession.

Suggested Citation

  • Abigail Marks & Chris Baldry, 2009. "Stuck in the middle with who? The class identity of knowledge workers," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 23(1), pages 49-65, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:23:y:2009:i:1:p:49-65
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017008099777
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Norman Bonney, 2007. "Gender, employment and social class," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 21(1), pages 143-155, March.
    2. Carol Stephenson & Paul Stewart, 2001. "The Whispering Shadow: Collectivism and Individualism at Ikeda-Hoover and Nissan UK," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 6(3), pages 72-82, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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