Revista de Estudios Sociales

rev. estud. soc. | eISSN 1900-5180 | ISSN 0123-885X

Dirty Work and Stigma: Caretakers of Death in Cemeteries

No. 63 (2018-01-01)
  • AnalÍa Soria Batista
    Universidade de Brasília
  • Wanderley Codo
    Universidade de Brasília
https://doi.org/10.7440/res63.2018.06

Abstract

This article uses the category dirty work in the analysis of the identity of morticians and funeral directors, as well as it identifies techniques and practices to deal with professional stigma. The article analyzes the role of the types of stains in the nature of these workers’ relationships with their dirty job, and the influence of context elements. This research, which integrates quantitative and qualitative methods, uses scales pertaining to this job and semi-structured interviews. It is concluded that the presence of moral stains in funeral directors brings the group together more solidly, and that elements such as class and race inhabit in the social construction of these discredited jobs and operate in the production of stained identities.

Keywords: Thesaurus: identity, ideologies. Author: cemeteries, dirty work

References

Ashforth, Blake, E., GlenKreiner, MarkKlark and MelFugate. 2007. “Normalizing Dirty Work: Managerial Tactics for Countering Occupational Taint.” Academy of Management Journal 50 (1): 149-174.

Ashforth, Blake, E. and GlenKreiner. 1999. “How Can You Go It’: Dirty Work and the Challenge of Constructing a Positive Identity.” Academy of Management Review 24 (3): 413-434. https://dx.doi.org/10.2307/259134

Ashforth, Blake, E. and GlenKreiner. 2013. “Profane or Profound? Finding Meaning in Dirty Work.” In Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace, edited by MichaelSteger, ZintaByrne and BryanJ. Dik, 127-150. Washington: American Psychological Association.

Ashforth, Blake, E. and GlenKreiner. 2014. “Dirty Work and Dirtier Work: Differences in Countering Physical, Social, and Moral Stigma.” Management and Organization Review 10 (1): 81-108. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/more.12044

Câmara, Millena Claudia Coutinho. 2011. “O agente funerário e a morte. O cuidado presente diante da vida ausente.” Masters dissertation. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.

Douglas, Mary. 2010. Pureza e Perigo.São Paulo: Perspectiva.

Farina, Anete Souza, AdaAntunes, JulianaEmy Yokomizo and LiviaCarolina Ariente. 2009. “A morte como trabalho, um estudo com agentes funerários da Grande São Paulo.” In Temas contemporâneos em Psicologia do Cotidiano, edited by AlexMoreira Carvalho and AneteSouza Farina, 35-58. São Paulo: Editora Expressão e Arte.

Forsyth, Craig, EddiePalmer and JessicaSimpson. 2006. “Funeral Director: Maintaining Business, Reputation and Performance.” Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology 34 (2): 123-132.

Goffman, Erving. 1959. The Presentation of Self in Every Day Life.New York: Anchor Books.

Goffman, Erving. 1963. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity.Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

Hughes, Everett. 1962. “Good People and Dirty Work.” Social Problems 10 (1): 3-11. https://dx.doi.org/10.2307/799402

Kovács, Maria Julia, NancyVaiciunas, ElaineGomes Reis Alves. 2014. “Profissionais do Serviço Funerário e a Questão da Morte.” Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão 34 (4): 940-954. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-370001272013

Kreiner, Glen, E. BlakeAshforth and DavidSluss. 2006. “Identity Dynamics in Occupational Dirty Work: Integrating Social Identity and System Justication Perspectives.” Organization Science 17 (5): 619-636. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1060.0208

Mc Caben, Darren and LindsayHamilton. 2015. “The Kill Programme: an Ethnographic Study of ’Dirtywork’ in a Slaughterhouse.” New Technology, Work and Employment 30 (2): 95-108. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12046

Ribas, Vanuzia and FrancivaldoAlmeida Gomes. 2012. “Trabalhadores da morte. Dilemas Éticos.” Mundo da Saúde 36 (1): 86-89.

Rodrigues, José Carlos. 2006. Tabu da Morte.Rio de Janeiro: Editora Fiocruz.

Souza, Katia Cristina Caparroz de and MagaliRoseira Boemer. 1998. “O significado do trabalho em funerárias sob a perspectiva do trabalhador.” Saúde e Sociedade 7 (1): 27-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-12901998000100003

Thompson, William, E.1983. “Hanging Tongues: A Sociological Encounter with the Assembly Line.” Qualitative Sociology 6 (3): 215-237.

Thompson, William E.1991. “Handling the Stigma of Handling the Dead: Morticians and Funeral Directors.” Deviant Behavior 12 (4): 403-429.

Ashforth, Blake, E., GlenKreiner, MarkKlark e MelFugate. 2007. “Normalizing Dirty Work: Managerial Tactics for Countering Occupational Taint”. Academy of Management Journal 50 (1): 149-174.

Ashforth, Blake, E. e GlenKreiner. 1999. “‘How Can You Go It?’: Dirty Work and the Challenge of Constructing a Positive Identity”. Academy of Management Review 24 (3): 413-434. https://dx.doi.org/10.2307/259134

Ashforth, Blake, E. e GlenKreiner. 2013. “Profane or Profound? Finding Meaning in Dirty Work”. Em Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace, editado por MichaelSteger, ZintaByrne e BryanJ. Dik, 127-150. Washington: American Psychological Association.

Ashforth, Blake, E. e GlenKreiner. 2014. “Dirty Work and Dirtier Work: Differences in Countering Physical, Social, and Moral Stigma”. Management and Organization Review 10 (1): 81-108. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/more.12044

Câmara, Millena Claudia Coutinho. 2011. “O agente funerário e a morte. O cuidado presente diante da vida ausente”. Dissertação de mestrado. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brasil.

Douglas, Mary. 2010. Pureza e Perigo.São Paulo: Perspectiva.

Farina, Anete Souza, AdaAntunes, JulianaEmy Yokomizo e LiviaCarolina Ariente. 2009. “A morte como trabalho, um estudo com agentes funerários da Grande São Paulo”. Em Temas contemporâneos em Psicologia do Cotidiano,editado por AlexMoreira Carvalho e AneteSouza Farina, 35-58. São Paulo: Editora Expressão e Arte.

Forsyth, Craig, EddiePalmer e JessicaSimpson. 2006. “Funeral Director: Maintaining Business, Reputation and Performance”. Free Inquiry In Creative Sociology 34 (2): 123-132.

Goffman, Erving. 1959. The Presentation of Self in Every Day Life.Nova York: Anchor Books.

Goffman, Erving. 1963. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity.Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

Hughes, Everett. 1962. “Good People and Dirty Work”. Social Problems 10 (1): 3-11. https://dx.doi.org/10.2307/799402

Kovács, Maria Julia, NancyVaiciunas, ElaineGomes Reis Alves. 2014. “Profissionais do Serviço Funerário e a Questão da Morte”. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão 34 (4): 940-954. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-370001272013

Kreiner, Glen, E.BlakeAshforth e DavidSluss. 2006. “Identity Dynamics in Occupational Dirty Work: Integrating Social Identity and System Justication Perspectives”. Organization Science 17 (5): 619-636. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1060.0208

Mc Cabe, Darren e LindsayHamilton. 2015. “The Kill Programme: an Ethnographic Study of ’Dirtywork’ in a Slaughterhouse”. New Technology, Work and Employment 30 (2): 95-108. https://doi.org/10.1111/ntwe.12046

Ribas, Vanuzia e FrancivaldoAlmeida Gomes. 2012. “Trabalhadores da morte. Dilemas Éticos”. Mundo da Saúde 36 (1): 86-89.

Rodrigues, José Carlos. 2006. Tabu da Morte. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Fiocruz.

Souza, Katia Cristina Caparroz de e MagaliRoseira Boemer. 1998. “O significado do trabalho em funerárias sob a perspectiva do trabalhador”. Saúde e Sociedade 7 (1): 27-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-12901998000100003

Thompson, William, E.1983. “Hanging Tongues: A Sociological Encounter with the Assembly Line”. Qualitative Sociology 6 (3): 215-237.

Thompson, William E.1991. “Handling the Stigma of Handling the Dead: Morticians and Funeral Directors”. Deviant Behavior 12 (4): 403-429.

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