Question 1

What aspect of work does Durkheim's concept of anomie (see also Chapters 16 and 9)and Marx's idea of alienation analyse similarly?
A)Agree with the division of labour
B)Predict the demise of the capitalist system
C)Argue the division of labour is responsible for unfulfilling work
D)Argue the imposition of change embedded tension in capital worker relations

Accepted Answer

Both Durkheim's concept of anomie and Marx's idea of alienation analyze the negative effects of the division of labor on individuals and their sense of fulfillment in their work. Durkheim's anomie refers to a state of normlessness that arises when individuals are not properly integrated into society or lack a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives. This can occur when individuals are disconnected from the social bonds and values that hold society together, such as those that can be associated with their work. Similarly, Marx's idea of alienation refers to the feeling of estrangement or separation that arises when workers are disconnected from the products of their labor, their fellow workers, and even themselves. This happens due to the capitalist system, which values profit over people and treats workers as interchangeable parts in a larger production process, rather than as individuals with unique skills and talents. In both cases, the division of labor is analyzed as an important factor in creating unfulfilling and potentially harmful work conditions for individuals.

Question 2

In less than 500 words,describe 'affirmative action' in an Australian context.

Accepted Answer

Student response could identify a definition of affirmative action,statistical information that supports the need for affirmative action and describe an example to demonstrate the arguments for and against affirmative action.

Question 3

Make a list of short sentences that describe the welfare state and explain its relevance in an Australian context to a sociological analysis of work.

Accepted Answer

Student response could identify the welfare services that form social protection in the Australian context; for example public hospitals,schools,employment assistance,pensions,and family allowances.Explain the connection between work and welfare.

Question 4

Which of the statements below was NOT associated with the transformation of work at the time of the industrial revolution?
A)There was the emergence of an industrial class that included women and children
B)Wealth produced by the economy grew and profit transformed economic relations
C)Wage earners started to form organisations to protect themselves that were like early trade unions
D)There was a model of subsistence farming and cottage industries whereby individuals were tied to place and employment

Accepted Answer

The statement that was not associated with the transformation of work at the time of the industrial revolution is D, which describes a pre-industrial model of subsistence farming and cottage industries. The other statements describe changes that occurred during the industrial revolution, such as the emergence of an industrial class, the growth of wealth and profit, and the formation of early trade unions.

Question 5

The gender gap,that is the difference between the earnings of all full-time wage earning women employees and all full-time wage earning men,is underpinned by:
A)Gender segregation
B)The living wage
C)The labour movement
D)The double burden

Accepted Answer

Gender segregation refers to the concentration of men and women in different occupations and sectors, with men typically occupying higher-paying jobs. This contributes significantly to the gender pay gap.

Answer: D 
 The double burden refers to the added workload and responsibilities that women face due to their societal roles as caregivers and homemakers, in addition to their paid employment. This can limit their opportunities for career advancement and lead to lower earnings.

Question 6

Using your own workplace as an example,consider the extent to which you feel alienated.State clearly and briefly the reasons why you consider this alienation occurs,with reference to relevant ideas in the chapter,such as Fordism or Taylorism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using your own workplace as an example,consider...

Question 7

To what do sociologists Bittman and Pixley (1997)refer to as the 'double burden'?
A)When women are in paid employment,and have to undertake unpaid work in the home as well
B)When workers have to continually retrain and gain professional qualifications even after they have completed a degree
C)The way that women tend to work in lower-paid jobs and are also more likely to be discriminated against in the workplace
D)When people of low socioeconomic status need to undertake two paid jobs in order to meet financial obligations

Accepted Answer

Bittman and Pixley (1997) refer to the 'double burden' as the situation where women are in paid employment but also have to undertake unpaid work in the home. This means they have to balance their responsibilities at work with taking care of household and family duties, which can be a significant burden. This term highlights the imbalance of gender roles in society, where women are expected to perform both paid and unpaid work, while men are more likely to focus on their careers.

Question 8

Social expectations and industrial awards meant that women in Australia did participate in work outside the home in the mid-20th century era.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Social expectations and industrial awards meant that...

Question 9

Sociological analysis of industrial relations shows all of the following EXCEPT:
A)In the United States,industrial relations relies more upon local bargaining between firms and workers than on unions
B)Austria and Sweden are good examples of highly centralised or corporatist industrial relations systems
C)The effectiveness of strikes lies in their ability to prevent employers from profiting during work stoppages
D)It is the legal right of workers in any country to strike and to hold secondary boycotts

Accepted Answer

It is not necessarily the legal right of workers in all countries to strike and hold secondary boycotts. This can vary significantly depending on legal frameworks and government regulations.

Question 10

Select the theory about work that is described INCORRECTLY:
A)Taylorism involves the rationalisation of work which is managed by experts and studied according to scientific principles
B)Fordism involves standardisation of output,mass workforces of semiskilled workers and rapid automation
C)According to Max Weber,service work demands a great deal of emotional labour
D)According to Marx,capitalism degrades work through automation,managerial control and deskilling

Accepted Answer

Max Weber actually coined the term emotional labour, but did not specifically apply it to service work. Rather, Weber saw emotional labour as necessary in any form of work that requires face-to-face interaction with customers or clients, such as sales or customer service.

Question 11

Conflicts over work,unemployment and social inequalities also put tremendous pressure on governments to expand other forms of social protection.With reference to this statement and using an Australian case study as an example,examine the relationship between work conflicts and government.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Conflicts over work,unemployment and social inequalities also...

Question 12

What did Weber argue in relation to changes to work in his essay,The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism?
A)That a cultural-religious shift was a necessary component of the social change that led to capitalist society
B)That institutions such as class,race,gender and sexuality play a role in reproducing unequal outcomes at work
C)That the transformation of work under capitalism is responsible for anomie
D)That there is a conflict between the two classes of the working people and the bourgeoisie which arises from the workers' alienation

Accepted Answer

Weber argued that a cultural-religious shift, specifically the Protestant work ethic, was a necessary component of the social change that led to capitalist society. He argued that the Protestant work ethic emphasized hard work, frugality, and self-discipline, which were necessary for individuals to accumulate capital and invest in the growth of their businesses. This cultural shift, according to Weber, helped to foster the growth of capitalism.

Question 13

What was unique about industrial relations in Australia in the 20th century?
A)The protection of employers
B)The protection of income levels for women
C)The protection of foreign workers
D)The protection of income levels for men

Accepted Answer

Industrial relations in Australia in the 20th century were unique in their focus on protecting the income levels of male workers. This was achieved through the establishment of a minimum wage and various industrial policies aimed at improving working conditions for men. While some limited protections existed for other groups, such as women and foreign workers, they did not receive the same level of attention as male workers.

Question 14

Work practices that emphasise teamwork,job satisfaction and diversification in outputs are known as:
A)Fordism
B)Post-Fordism
C)Taylorist organisation
D)The new economy

Accepted Answer

Post-Fordism is a work practice that emphasizes teamwork, job satisfaction, and diversification in outputs. It is a departure from the strict hierarchical and specialized nature of Taylorist organization and Fordism. The New Economy is a broader term that refers to the transition from industrial to information-based economies. Fordism and Taylorist organization are more focused on efficiency and standardization.

Question 15

What did Ehrenreich's (2001)research show middle-management and low-paid work have in common?
A)Labour saving technologies
B)Physical effort
C)Organisational skills
D)Emotional effort

Accepted Answer

Ehrenreich's (2001) research showed that both middle-management and low-paid work require emotional effort, such as the need to manage one's emotions or pretend to enjoy interactions with clients or colleagues.

Question 16

When did manufacturing first start in Australia?
A)1788
B)1870
C)1901
D)1930

Accepted Answer

Manufacturing first started in Australia in the 1870s when the country began to import modern machinery from Europe and America to establish local factories. Prior to that, most goods were imported or handcrafted domestically.

Question 17

Which statement below best describes what is meant by Fordism?
A)A system whereby production is organised around mass productivity lines with the removal of labour's control over the process of production
B)It refers to Henry Ford,because he demonstrated industrial innovation to develop the motor car
C)Taylorist organisation
D)A system that experienced its heyday in the aftermath of WWII

Accepted Answer

Fordism is a system of mass production in which production is organised around assembly lines, with the aim of achieving high productivity and efficiency. It involves the use of standardized parts and the removal of control over the production process from labour to managers. This system was first implemented by Henry Ford in his car manufacturing plant, hence the name "Fordism". The heyday of Fordism was in the period after World War II, when it was adopted by many industries across the world. The Taylorist organisation refers to the principles of scientific management developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the decline of Australian unionism as suggested by Peetz (1998)?
A)More women in the workforce changed the dynamics of workplaces previously dominated by men
B)Economic reform which increased a casual workforce and reduced the public sector workforce
C)Corporate tactics and government reforms became tougher and this shifted adversarial industrial relations
D)Unions lost capacity at lower levels on the 'shop floor'

Accepted Answer

Peetz (1998) actually suggests that the increase in women in the workforce was one of the reasons for the decline of Australian unionism, as it changed the traditional male-dominated union culture and values.

Question 19

The modern factory which emerged with the industrial revolution was a change to the organisation of work for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
A)A more efficient organisation of work was encouraged
B)The slow removal of artisans from the workplace commenced at this point
C)Religious values were incorporated into the workplace
D)Work was centralised,as was the workforce

Accepted Answer

The modern factory did not incorporate religious values into the workplace. The focus was on increasing efficiency and productivity through the centralization of work and workforce, which led to the removal of artisans from the workplace.

Question 20

Unemployment and underemployment can lead to all of the following EXCEPT:
A)Isolation
B)Social participation
C)Social exclusion
D)Inequality

Accepted Answer

Unemployment and underemployment can lead to isolation, social exclusion, and inequality. However, they are not associated with increased social participation. In fact, individuals who are unemployed or underemployed may have fewer opportunities to engage in formal and informal social activities due to financial constraints and lower self-esteem.

Quiz 10: The Working Environment

What aspect of work does Durkheim's concept of anomie (see also Chapters 16 and 9) and Marx's idea of alienation analyse similarly?

In less than 500 words,describe 'affirmative action' in an Australian context.

Make a list of short sentences that describe the welfare state and explain its relevance in an Australian context to a sociological analysis of work.

Which of the statements below was NOT associated with the transformation of work at the time of the industrial revolution?

The gender gap,that is the difference between the earnings of all full-time wage earning women employees and all full-time wage earning men,is underpinned by:

Using your own workplace as an example,consider the extent to which you feel alienated.State clearly and briefly the reasons why you consider this alienation occurs,with reference to relevant ideas in the chapter,such as Fordism or Taylorism.

To what do sociologists Bittman and Pixley (1997) refer to as the 'double burden'?

Social expectations and industrial awards meant that women in Australia did participate in work outside the home in the mid-20th century era.

Sociological analysis of industrial relations shows all of the following EXCEPT:

Select the theory about work that is described INCORRECTLY:

Conflicts over work,unemployment and social inequalities also put tremendous pressure on governments to expand other forms of social protection.With reference to this statement and using an Australian case study as an example,examine the relationship between work conflicts and government.

What did Weber argue in relation to changes to work in his essay,The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism?

What was unique about industrial relations in Australia in the 20th century?

Work practices that emphasise teamwork,job satisfaction and diversification in outputs are known as:

What did Ehrenreich's (2001) research show middle-management and low-paid work have in common?

When did manufacturing first start in Australia?

Which statement below best describes what is meant by Fordism?

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the decline of Australian unionism as suggested by Peetz (1998) ?

The modern factory which emerged with the industrial revolution was a change to the organisation of work for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Unemployment and underemployment can lead to all of the following EXCEPT: