Week 4 Articles Flashcards
What is aesthetic labor?
Labor requiring workers to embody the appearance, style, and mannerisms that reflect a brand’s image
Which concept introduced by Bourdieu forms the foundation of aesthetic labor?
Habitus — socially ingrained, class-influenced patterns of behavior and perception shaped during childhood
Why is aesthetic labor important in upscale retail?
Workers must “look good and sound right” to match brand identity and attract customers.
Who do upscale retail stores prefer to hire?
Class-privileged, often white, conventionally gendered individuals who fit brand aesthetics.
Why do middle-class individuals take low-wage retail jobs?
Because they enjoy the brand, receive discounts, or view it as a social experience, not out of economic need.
What hiring strategies are used to recruit workers with the right habitus?
Vetting creative talents
Hiring customers off the floor
Offering deep employee discounts
Prolonged interview processes
Variable and unpredictable scheduling
What are the consequences of aesthetic labor for social inequality?
Reinforces job segregation by race, gender, and class
Obscures labor exploitation through fetishism of consumption
Prevents worker resistance by appealing to consumer identity
What is “retail fetishism”?
When workers are viewed as brand ambassadors, masking the low-wage, controlled labor behind the product and store image
How does aesthetic labor affect worker resistance?
Workers identify more as consumers than employees, making them less likely to protest working conditions.
Why do workers eventually leave?
Due to poor wages, lack of advancement, and disillusionment with the brand and working conditions.
Why is compensating aesthetic labor controversial?
it risks rewarding class-based privilege and reinforcing social inequalities.
What is the difference between aesthetic labor and emotional labor?
Aesthetic labor is about appearance/style; emotional labor is about managing feelings to please customers
How is aesthetic labor similar to “soft skills”?
Both are subjective assessments of worker traits, often leading to discriminatory hiring practices.
What is a “worker-consumer”?
An employee who identifies more with a store’s brand as a consumer than as a worker.
Why do upscale stores prolong interview processes?
To screen out applicants who rely on immediate income, favoring those with financial cushion and brand loyalty.
What is the purpose of offering employee discounts instead of better wages?
To attract brand-loyal consumers who value merchandise more than monetary compensation.
Why do stores prefer to hire part-time workers?
To avoid providing benefits and maintain labor flexibility, contributing to high turnover.
How does aesthetic labor obscure discrimination?
It reframes bias as “branding,” making it seem like a rational business decision rather than illegal discrimination.
What is the “danger imperative”?
A cultural frame in policing that emphasizes violence and the constant need to prioritize officer safety, shaping both perception and behavior.
How has the actual danger in policing changed over time?
Violent victimization and felonious officer deaths have declined over the past 50 years, but the cultural perception of danger remains strong.
How does the danger imperative influence police culture?
It reinforces solidarity, the “code of silence,” suspicion toward civilians, and aggressive enforcement tactics.
How are officers socialized into the danger imperative formally?
Through academy training, use-of-force simulations, in-service training, and violent videos shown during lineups.
What are some policy-compliant tactics taught to enhance safety?
Using spotlights, standing in “POI” positions, touching the trunk for fingerprints, and ensuring visibility during stops.
How does Sierra-Arévalo distinguish between “risk” and “danger”?
“Risk” is statistical and abstract, while “danger” is visceral, cultural, and shaped by lived experience and training.
