Hammond, S and Cattell, K (2017) Sizwe banzi is dead: The aberrant case of construction sector identity. In: Chan, P W and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 33rd Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2017, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract
“Aberrant” is defined by the Collins English Dictionary as: “deviating from morality”. This paper examines the evidence of the death of “Sizwe”, and responds to the question: to what extent is the construction sector culpable in retarding development and occupational identity? Using historical sociology as the investigative lens, we develop the argument that the sector is culpable. Numerous authors designate the construction sector as an easily entered form of employment, particularly in developing countries. Nevertheless the quality and status of construction employment is neither neutral nor consistent. What are the effects upon individual development of identity if work in construction consists of short-term variable forms of labour? A review of occupational science and employment law articles suggests that the development of identity closely relates to an identifiable occupational role, with potential negative effects arising from exclusion. In a South African context, historically such identity development has been clouded by the statutory exclusion from urban residence, and qualified artisan status. Contextualised against a political climate of youth challenging the persistence and perpetuation of colonial status hierarchies, the questions addressed are: to what extent has the construction industry responded positively to the post-apartheid dispensation and removed the impediments to a dignified development of occupational identity; and alternatively, what brutally innovative solutions may be applied?
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | labelling; migrant; occupational identity; skills; transient employment. |
| Index terms: | developing country, employment, science, sociology, dictionary, evidence, identity, morality, construction sector, construction industry |
| Subjects: | management, social theory, development economics, data management, sociology, industry analysis, evaluation and assessment methods, specialized education, ethical practice |
| Topics: | Research Practice, International Construction, Human Resources, Education |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 CTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here