CASTELLINI Federica Psychology Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy email: [email protected] BETWEEN OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY:

CASTELLINI Federica

Psychology Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy

email: [email protected]

BETWEEN OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY: HOW THE ECONOMICAL CONTEXT

TRANSFORMATIONS MAY INFLUENCE SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS OF WORK

AND FUTURE

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION►Objective ‘ecological’ changes within the Objective ‘ecological’ changes within the

socio-economic context (Europe and Italy)socio-economic context (Europe and Italy) FlexibilityFlexibility

► In the working activityIn the working activity► In the way of workingIn the way of working► In the employer-employee relationship (new laws)In the employer-employee relationship (new laws)► In the labour market dynamicsIn the labour market dynamics

FLEXIBILITY FLEXIBILITY gradual disappearance of the gradual disappearance of the permanent job position, pervasiveness of casual permanent job position, pervasiveness of casual job (atypical contracts) especially for young job (atypical contracts) especially for young peoplepeople

► There is a new labour reality (more and There is a new labour reality (more and more instable and uncertain)more instable and uncertain)

►Which are the influences of these Which are the influences of these changes on young people’s changes on young people’s ‘subjectivity’ (on their social ‘subjectivity’ (on their social representations of work and future)?representations of work and future)?

Are the growing casualization of the labour Are the growing casualization of the labour market and its flexibility transforming market and its flexibility transforming social representations of work? Are they social representations of work? Are they forcing young people to imagine an forcing young people to imagine an instable future, built up on fragmented and instable future, built up on fragmented and precarious bases?precarious bases?

THE PROBLEMTHE PROBLEM

►Psychological ecologyPsychological ecology (Lewin, 1943) (Lewin, 1943)

……suggests to study “suggests to study “all the coexistent all the coexistent facts thought as mutually interdependent facts thought as mutually interdependent for a person in a given momentfor a person in a given moment””

Changes in the socio-economic context Changes in the socio-economic context are new structural elements, ‘ecological are new structural elements, ‘ecological factors’, ‘non psicological factors’ which factors’, ‘non psicological factors’ which influence subjectivityinfluence subjectivity

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKTHEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

►Bourdieu (1979)Bourdieu (1979)

““independent variables such as sex, age independent variables such as sex, age and education leveland education level” forming the actual ” forming the actual empirical field in one datum; all such empirical field in one datum; all such factors, considered factors, considered as a wholeas a whole, can , can influence the subjectivity.influence the subjectivity.

Rejecting a linear and direct causal Rejecting a linear and direct causal relation of a single factor on the relation of a single factor on the dependent variable/s to assume the dependent variable/s to assume the hypothesis of a “structural causal relation hypothesis of a “structural causal relation of a factors network”of a factors network”

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKTHEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

► In this new labour reality the In this new labour reality the GLOBAL GLOBAL WEAVE OF ALL THE “ECOLOGICAL WEAVE OF ALL THE “ECOLOGICAL FACTORS” FACTORS” may influence and reveal may influence and reveal differences in both representations of differences in both representations of work and futurework and future

►Among others, Among others, ecological factors ecological factors would comprise:would comprise: type of work type of work contract, educational level (or type of contract, educational level (or type of degree), gender and original family’s degree), gender and original family’s cultural-economical capitalcultural-economical capital

MAIN HYPOTHESISMAIN HYPOTHESIS

►THE TYPE OF CONTRACTTHE TYPE OF CONTRACT working under working under a temporary work contract may influence a temporary work contract may influence the young people’s representations of the young people’s representations of their future. In particular, this may delay their future. In particular, this may delay the accomplishment of young people’s the accomplishment of young people’s projects, either work projects or projects projects, either work projects or projects of independence or projects aiming to of independence or projects aiming to build a family, or it can make this more build a family, or it can make this more difficultdifficult

SECONDARY HYPOTHESISSECONDARY HYPOTHESIS

►Other ecological factors, such as Other ecological factors, such as GENDERGENDER, , the the ORIGINAL FAMILY SOCIAL-ECONOMIC ORIGINAL FAMILY SOCIAL-ECONOMIC STATUSSTATUS and and CULTURAL BACKGROUNDCULTURAL BACKGROUND, as , as well as the well as the TYPE OF DEGREETYPE OF DEGREE may influence may influence the perception of one’s own present the perception of one’s own present condition and representation of one’s condition and representation of one’s future as well; some of these factors may future as well; some of these factors may protect against uncertainty and other protect against uncertainty and other factors may, on the contrary, make it factors may, on the contrary, make it harder and harderharder and harder

SECONDARY HYPOTHESISSECONDARY HYPOTHESIS

►This contribution shows the outcomes of This contribution shows the outcomes of the 3rd and last phase of a quali-the 3rd and last phase of a quali-quantitative research performed between quantitative research performed between 2003 and 2005 involving 2003 and 2005 involving GRADUATE GRADUATE WORKERS (men and women, 25-35 aged) WORKERS (men and women, 25-35 aged) working under fixed-term contracts or working under fixed-term contracts or open-ended contracts in Lombardyopen-ended contracts in Lombardy (Italian (Italian region)region)

►Every phase was defined by the outcomes Every phase was defined by the outcomes obtained from the previous phasesobtained from the previous phases

METHODMETHOD

► 1st (qualitative) PHASE 1st (qualitative) PHASE 20 exploratory 20 exploratory interviewsinterviews

► 2nd (quantitative) PHASE 2nd (quantitative) PHASE 213 questionnaires 213 questionnaires► 3rd (qualitative) PHASE 3rd (qualitative) PHASE 24 in-depth interviews 24 in-depth interviews

12 atypical workers 12 atypical workers

6 men and 6 women; 7 with a ‘weak’ degree and 5 6 men and 6 women; 7 with a ‘weak’ degree and 5 with a ‘strong’ degree with a ‘strong’ degree (Istat, 2003, 2004, 2005)(Istat, 2003, 2004, 2005)

12 typical workers12 typical workers

6 men and 6 women; 7 with a ‘weak’ degree and 5 6 men and 6 women; 7 with a ‘weak’ degree and 5 with a ‘strong’ degreewith a ‘strong’ degree

METHODMETHOD

►The corpus has been analysed The corpus has been analysed according to a qualitative and according to a qualitative and phenomenological approach phenomenological approach

►The corpus of qualitative data (all the The corpus of qualitative data (all the 24 interviews) was classified by 24 interviews) was classified by gender, type of contract, type of gender, type of contract, type of degree and statusdegree and status

►The text contents have been explored The text contents have been explored and mapped through the lexical and mapped through the lexical correspondences analysis and the correspondences analysis and the cluster analysis computed by the cluster analysis computed by the software software T-LAB ProT-LAB Pro (Lancia, 2001). (Lancia, 2001).

METHODMETHOD

RESULTSRESULTS A representation of the corpus contents: A representation of the corpus contents:

Typologies of the Elementary Context (E.C.)Typologies of the Elementary Context (E.C.)

1 3 4 52

CLUSTER 1CLUSTER 1

Educational Background

CLUSTER 2CLUSTER 2

Atypical jobs and

contracts, problems and

solutions

CLUSTER 4CLUSTER 4

Towards independenc

e: a new home, a new

family

CLUSTER 5CLUSTER 5

Future projectuality

and one’s professional

identity

CLUSTER 3CLUSTER 3

The original family, similarities and differences

RESULTSRESULTS Typologies of the Elementary Context (E.C.): Typologies of the Elementary Context (E.C.):

CLUSTER 1CLUSTER 1Relation with the studying

Vocational guidance/choosing criteria

High school and university

Past and present: researching continuity and consistency

Marketability and usefulness of one’s own degree: ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ degrees

GS, man, ‘typical’, aged 27, engineering degree (strong)

“My present life is quite consistent with my expectations, even with the expectations I had

during my university studies. ...Maybe even better.”

LT, man,’ typical’, aged 32, psychology degree (weak)

“Now I am quite far from my expectations, in fact I would have liked to work as a psychologist; I would

have liked to help somebody else. Today, on the contrary, I have few opportunities to speak and to have relations with people, so, my job is quite far

from my expectations.”

CLUSTER 1 – Educational Background


CLUSTER 2CLUSTER 2Atypical contracts

Problems related to atypical contracts

MM, man, atypical (fixed term), aged 30, law degree (weak), single, journalist at a newspaper“In my opinion, an atypical contract is a contract under which, at its expiry date, you can go home even if you have been working for four years in a company, rather

than being invited to go home even for reasons that are different from those applied to the open-ended

employees …”

Representations of the new labour market

AN, man, atypical (temporary), aged 31, economics degree (strong), with partner,

purchasing and accounts payable employee in a big multinational company

“The labour market offers nothing and the situation we live is a real blackmail. I mean that if there is nothing and you are offered a little then you will have to take what you can and this is wrong, according to me. If I could I would refuse this situation but I am perfectly

aware of the fact that if I refused there would be thousands of people who would accept it.”

Possible solutions

CLUSTER 2 – Atypical jobs and contracts, problems and

solutions


CLUSTER 3CLUSTER 3The past everyday life in own’s own family

One’s parents relationship with the labour market (a comparison between past and present)

The role of the socio-economical status in changing representation of the new labour market

AB, man, atypical , aged 30, biology degree, middle-low status “We were born (me and my parents) in very

different periods. When they were young, they could find a job, I mean that you did not have to think to what to do when you finished your studies, and there was job for

everybody... We can say that there is some job, today, but this is completely different from what I would like to have, I mean that you can have a fixed-term job, with an atypical

contract, which only meets your present needs, which is not a job that makes you live with it.”

Balancing work and family life (in women)

LM, woman, typical, aged 29, foreign languages degree with partner, she manages advertising

spaces for a newspaper, her mother was employed (clerk) in a big company

“I can see many things that are similar to my mother’s life since she also had hard working hours and she worked far from home. So, I can understand what she lived (…) I can

find that I am like her.”

CLUSTER 3 – The original family, similarities and

differences


CLUSTER 4CLUSTER 4The achievement of autonomy and independence

The new ‘home’

GV, man, atypical (fixed-term), aged 28, economics degree (strong), con partner, bank clerk, he lives with

his parents “I can see myself married in a house which I will keep tight, hardly. One of my target is buying a house, since it is very important, it will mark your future life but it twill also offer you the opportunity to be autonomous, to live your life, to

have your family. So it is not easy, it is not like buying a pair of shoes and it is something that will change you a lot.”

The emotional and economic support offered by the original family

AN, man, atypical (temporary), aged 31, economics degree with partner, employee in a big multinational

company “My parents are my welfare! Last year they bought me a flat and... I would be a poor fellow without them! When I am in

troubles, they can help me. I would be nothing without them and this is absurd. It is absurd that, today, not only those

who have a job like this live in this way but also that a man or a woman cannot be protected.”

CLUSTER 4 – Towards independence: a new home, a new family


CLUSTER 5CLUSTER 5

The work: how to change and improve it

TM, man, atypical (stage), 26, economics degree (strong), single, trainee in a big publishing company “I hope to succeed in, to experience something interesting (...) to have the opportunity to change. I would like to make career, I mean that I would like to have the opportunity to

setup my work, to do the same job but at a higher level or I would like to have a business of my own...”

Complementary feelings of hope and fear related to the future

The macro-social context: ties and resources for one’s fulfilment

CLUSTER 5 – Future projectuality and one’s professional identity

► Even if problematic, work is the key-element Even if problematic, work is the key-element of the interviewed people’s present life: it is of the interviewed people’s present life: it is recognised as the basic step for the creation recognised as the basic step for the creation of one’s future lifeof one’s future life..

AS, woman, atypical ,aged 28, psychology AS, woman, atypical ,aged 28, psychology degree degree

““Living and having your own projects without a job is Living and having your own projects without a job is really hard; so working is essential from that point really hard; so working is essential from that point of view. In this very time, work helps me feeling an of view. In this very time, work helps me feeling an

independent adult, somehow. So, everything is independent adult, somehow. So, everything is linked to the fact of earning one’s living, moving linked to the fact of earning one’s living, moving

away from home, living one’s own life.”away from home, living one’s own life.”

RESULTSRESULTS Representations and meanings of work and future Representations and meanings of work and future

► Instrumental and symbolic meanings of workInstrumental and symbolic meanings of work

ED, man, typical, aged 32, law degree ED, man, typical, aged 32, law degree ““Working is Working is a necessary evila necessary evil for me; I mean that you must work. I for me; I mean that you must work. I

am undecided about the necessary evil and am undecided about the necessary evil and a huge ATMa huge ATM …your …your bank-note starts going out at nine o’clock in the morning and bank-note starts going out at nine o’clock in the morning and

you can start drawing your bank-note after eight hours or you can start drawing your bank-note after eight hours or something like that.”something like that.”

MT, woman, typical, aged 33, economics degreeMT, woman, typical, aged 33, economics degree““I mean that if you are not satisfied with your work, you can loose I mean that if you are not satisfied with your work, you can loose

an important part, and even an important part, and even work is a part of our identitywork is a part of our identity. Many . Many people could not have their professional fulfilment and they people could not have their professional fulfilment and they

could live all the same, but I think that they have lost could live all the same, but I think that they have lost something … fulfilment of herself. One’s identity is also made of something … fulfilment of herself. One’s identity is also made of

her satisfaction with her work.”her satisfaction with her work.”


► Representations of the future (hopes and Representations of the future (hopes and fears) seem to be influenced by the original fears) seem to be influenced by the original family’s economic background (family’s economic background (capitalcapital))

TM man, atypical, aged 26, economics degree, high status“I hope to succeed in, to try to, to get interesting experience and I hope to keep my

curiosity to make experience and have the opportunity to satisfy such curiosity and then, in the future, to have the opportunity to change, to do big changes to

make something different, even much different.”“I am afraid of not succeeding in achieving such changes, not being able to follow

my curiosity or loosing my enthusiasm. I do not know which is the worst thing between loosing curiosity/enthusiasm or not to be able to satisfy your desire for

any reasons whatsoever and being forced to do a job you are not satisfied with.”

AN, man, atypical, aged 31, economics degree, middle-low status “I hope that things will go better in the future, even because it could not go worse

than this, I could only sleep on the road ...(...) Now I have this job, maybe I will be fed up with being temporary in the next three years or I could become used

to it...”“Look, I do not think anymore of being afraid, I do not want to imagine a future like

this. Since I am optimist, I do not want to see any fear. I think of today’s life.”


RESULTSRESULTS My future between obligations and opportunitiesMy future between obligations and opportunities

►An open-ended job, not ‘any-job’ is the key factor to reach autonomy

AN, man, atypical , aged 31, economics degreeAN, man, atypical , aged 31, economics degree““I am not completely autonomous and I am not completely I am not completely autonomous and I am not completely independent. At present, I do not have a real job. I need a real independent. At present, I do not have a real job. I need a real job to be autonomous and independent, I need an open-ended job to be autonomous and independent, I need an open-ended

job.”job.”

►The atypical situation seems to be particularly difficult for MEN

GV, man, atypical , aged 28, economics degree “I do not think I am autonomous because I cannot live alone or with my girlfriend. I need much more money than I have to live

alone and I will continue to be angry and to be in search for autonomy until I could not find some more money”

RESULTSRESULTSAssociations with the verb ‘TO HOPE’Associations with the verb ‘TO HOPE’

Stability (open-ended contract, salary, guarantee, job, to find)

Ambivalent feelings related to future (dream, anxiety, hope, to succeed)

Need to be supported (mother, together)

Family area (family, child, familiar)

To find a better job (to change, new, autonomous, better)

DISCUSSION AND DISCUSSION AND ‘CONCLUSIONS’‘CONCLUSIONS’

► Young people seem to have absorbed the Young people seem to have absorbed the representation of an uncertain society and of a difficult representation of an uncertain society and of a difficult labour marketlabour market

► Atypical jobs are becoming ‘the Job’, the ruleAtypical jobs are becoming ‘the Job’, the rule► The stability of work is a key factor to get into the adult The stability of work is a key factor to get into the adult

lifelife► The ecological factors network may influence the The ecological factors network may influence the

representations of work and futurerepresentations of work and future Men and women seem to consider and live Men and women seem to consider and live

atypicalness differently (role expectations)atypicalness differently (role expectations) The type of degree changes the way in which you The type of degree changes the way in which you

may interpret your present job condition and your may interpret your present job condition and your futurefuture

Family (and its cultural and economical capital) is a Family (and its cultural and economical capital) is a strong protective factor strong protective factor

The atypical work condition tends to widen and The atypical work condition tends to widen and emphasize the starting economical differences (it’s emphasize the starting economical differences (it’s more difficult both to plan and face the future)more difficult both to plan and face the future)

Documents

CASTELLINI Federica Psychology Department, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy email: [email protected] BETWEEN OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY: