Autonomy, control and job advancement the case of low paid women working in food retail

Linda McKie; Gillian Hogg; Laura Airey; Kathryn Backett-Milburn; Zoe Rew

doi:10.1177/0950017009344918

Autonomy, control and job advancement the case of low paid women working in food retail

Linda McKie, Gillian Hogg, Laura Airey, Kathryn Backett-Milburn, Zoe Rew

Sociology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Food retail is a major employer and growth sector. It is one in which gender segregation is evident with many shops reliant on part-time low paid women employees. Most of these employees are trying to combine care responsibilities and paid work. This research note explores findings from 55 interviews with women working in nine food retail businesses in Scotland. Analysis illustrates the ways shop assistants maximize their control over time to ensure that unpaid family and care work can be prioritized. By contrast supervisors find promotion brings constraints on time and autonomy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	787-796
Number of pages	10
Journal	Work, Employment and Society
Volume	23
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017009344918
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2009

Keywords

food retail work
autonomy
low wage earners
women in employment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Documents and Links

10.1177/0950017009344918

Cite this

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AU - Airey, Laura

AU - Backett-Milburn, Kathryn

AU - Rew, Zoe

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AB - Food retail is a major employer and growth sector. It is one in which gender segregation is evident with many shops reliant on part-time low paid women employees. Most of these employees are trying to combine care responsibilities and paid work. This research note explores findings from 55 interviews with women working in nine food retail businesses in Scotland. Analysis illustrates the ways shop assistants maximize their control over time to ensure that unpaid family and care work can be prioritized. By contrast supervisors find promotion brings constraints on time and autonomy.

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Autonomy, control and job advancement the case of low paid women working in food retail

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Documents and Links

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Cite this