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WEEK 1Emily Quinn Ahonen, Kaori Fujishiro, Thomas Cunningham and Michael Flynn (2018). Work
as an Inclusive Part of Population Health Inequities Research and Prevention. American Journal
of Public Health, Vol. 108(3), pp. 306-311
The article highlights how work significantly influences health inequities and calls for integrating
work as a central factor in public health research and interventions. The authors argue that existing
approaches to population health often fail to fully address how working conditions, employment
status, and workplace policies shape health outcomes across diverse populations. By viewing work as
a key determinant of health, the authors emphasize that workplace environments can either exacerbate
or mitigate broader societal health disparities.
The article begins by outlining the relationship between work and health inequities, noting that work
provides financial stability, social identity, and access to healthcare. However, it can also contribute
negatively to health through unsafe conditions, low wages, job insecurity, and psychosocial stress.
Vulnerable populations, such as racial minorities, immigrants, and low-income workers, are
disproportionately affected due to their overrepresentation in precarious, high-risk, or poorly
compensated jobs. These inequities are not accidental but rather embedded within broader societal
systems of discrimination, exclusion, and inequality.
To advance research and prevention strategies, the authors advocate for a framework that explicitly
considers work-related factors when addressing health inequities. This requires researchers to examine
not only individual behavior but also the structural and organizational aspects of work, such as labor
laws, workplace standards, and systemic barriers to equitable employment. They highlight that policies
ensuring fair wages, occupational safety, and inclusive work environments are critical to reducing
health disparities and promoting social justice.
The authors provide examples to demonstrate the importance of this approach, emphasizing the need
for collaboration between occupational health professionals, public health researchers, policymakers,
and employers. By adopting an interdisciplinary and systemic perspective, stakeholders can better
identify how work impacts health and design interventions that create healthier, more equitable
workplaces. For instance, improving workplace conditions for marginalized groups can lead to broader
societal benefits, including reduced healthcare costs and improved community well-being.
In conclusion, Ahonen et al. stress that work must be treated as a central factor in addressing health
inequities. Ignoring work-related determinants risks perpetuating the very disparities that public health
seeks to eliminate. A comprehensive approach that integrates work into health research and prevention
efforts is essential to creating equitable and healthy societies. Through this lens, the authors provide a
powerful argument for rethinking how work is included in population health frameworks to address
systemic inequities effectively.
,Graeber, D. (2018). Preface : On the phenomenon of bullshit jobs. In: David Graeber (2018).
Bullshit Jobs: A theory. New York : Simon & Schuster
David Graeber's “Bullshit Jobs: A Theory” introduces a provocative critique of modern work culture,
particularly focusing on the prevalence of jobs that seem to serve little or no meaningful purpose. The
preface lays the groundwork for the book’s central argument: that many jobs in contemporary
capitalist societies exist solely to maintain the appearance of productivity, contributing neither to
personal fulfillment nor societal good. This paradox is particularly striking given capitalism’s
theoretical emphasis on efficiency and resource optimization.
Graeber defines a "bullshit job" as one whose tasks are perceived by those performing them as
pointless or unnecessary, such that their elimination would not harm, and might even improve, societal
functioning. These roles differ from merely unpleasant or difficult jobs because they are characterized
by an inherent lack of value as recognized by the workers themselves. Drawing on surveys and
anecdotes, Graeber highlights the staggering fact that a significant portion of workers feel their jobs
lack meaningful contribution to the world. For instance, polls indicate that up to 37–40% of workers in
certain economies believe their roles are devoid of purpose, underscoring a disconnect between work
and utility.
The existence of such jobs contradicts the logic of market economies, which ostensibly prioritize
efficiency. Graeber contrasts this with the inefficiencies of planned economies, such as the Soviet
Union, where jobs were often created to ensure full employment. Yet in capitalist systems, where
profit should theoretically prevent unnecessary expenditures, the phenomenon persists. He suggests
this incongruity is not economic but moral and political: maintaining a busy workforce upholds
societal norms that equate moral worth with employment, regardless of a job's substantive value. Idle
populations, he posits, could destabilize the social order, as evidenced by historical movements during
times of increased leisure.
The book explores various examples of "bullshit jobs," such as bureaucratic positions in both the
private and public sectors, which proliferate despite their inefficiency. For instance, Graeber recounts
tales of overburdened paperwork and redundant administrative roles, which often hinder rather than
facilitate productive work. These roles, he argues, are maintained by complex social and economic
systems that prioritize hierarchy, control, and the perpetuation of institutional inertia over meaningful
productivity.
Graeber also touches on the psychological and social effects of these jobs. Workers trapped in roles
they perceive as pointless often suffer from alienation and dissatisfaction. This sense of futility breeds
resentment (teleurstelling/woede), not only toward their work but also toward those who perform
genuinely essential roles or live outside the employment paradigm. The result is a deeply divided
society where fulfillment and fairness in work remain elusive.
In his critique, Graeber acknowledges potential objections, such as the difficulty of objectively
determining which jobs are "necessary." He emphasizes that his analysis is rooted in subjective
experiences: it is the workers themselves who deem their jobs meaningless. This distinction allows for
a nuanced exploration of why certain sectors—like corporate law or finance—are filled with
individuals who admit their roles lack value, even as society rewards these positions
disproportionately compared to essential jobs like teaching or nursing.
The preface sets the stage for the book’s deeper investigations into the origins, types, and
consequences of bullshit jobs. Graeber aims to unravel the systemic conditions that foster these roles,
analyzing their impact on individuals and society at large. He suggests that understanding and
addressing this phenomenon is critical to creating a more equitable and fulfilling work environment.
Graeber’s insights challenge readers to rethink the structure and purpose of modern employment. By
interrogating the systems that allow inefficiency and disconnection to thrive, “Bullshit Jobs” opens a
, conversation about how work can better align with human needs and societal goals. This critique not
only exposes the absurdities of contemporary labor practices but also calls for a reevaluation of the
values underpinning our economic and social systems.
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