Boundary work in the process of informal job seeking : an ethnographic study of Cape Town roadside workseekers

Sterken, Hanneke

Boundary work in the process of informal job seeking : an ethnographic study of Cape Town roadside workseekers

Master Thesis

2010

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Social Anthropology

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

In the context of rising unemployment, an NGO called Men on the Side of the Road (MSR) was established to provide men who stand by the side of the road waiting to be offered jobs with job opportunities and skills. The purpose of the ethnographic study described here was to assess members‘ experiences and attitudes towards the work or income-earning opportunities introduced to members by MSR. The overall goal of the report was to assess why a large proportion of the work opportunities introduced to members were not taken up with great enthusiasm. After completion of the study, the researcher found that the day-labourers used three different labels ('locals', 'networking workers' and 'struggling foreigners') to describe themselves and other roadside workseekers.

Description

Includes abstract.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-83).

Keywords

Practical Anthropology

Reference:

Collections

Masters

Full item page