Dirty Work: The Social Construction of Taint

Dirty Work profiles a number of occupations that society deems tainted. The volume’s vivid, ethnographic reports focus on the communication that helps workers manage the moral, social, and physical stains that derive from engaging in such occupations. The creative ways that those who perform such dirty work learn to communicate with each other–and with outsiders–regulate the negative aspects of the work itself and emphasize the positives so that workers can maintain a sense of self-value even while performing devalued occupations.