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"Why Work?" The Meaning of Labor and Sources of Dignity in Minority Adolescent LivesMedia attention has focused on that segment of African American youth that rejects the world of legitimate work and turns to crime, drugs, the welfare system, or the underground economy for a living. But most minority youth are not involved in crime and a substantial number of them work, primarily in low-skill service jobs that pay little and offer few opportunities for advancement. This research delves into the world of low-wage work and how it affects the attitudes and aspirations of young minority workers. This ethnography of low-wage work is a comparative study of teens and young adults working in Oakland and Harlem. Researchers will observe and interview workers at fast-food service chains and similar work sites to learn more about what motivates them to take these jobs, how the work affects their school performance, why they move so rapidly and frequently between jobs, what they do with their money, and how they view their future. By examining both the positive and negative aspects of low-wage work, the researchers hope to offer suggestions on how the work experiences of minority youth might be improved.
Carol Stack is the principal investigator.
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