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Consciousness of time and time for the development of consciousness: health awareness among women flight attendants
Author(s) -
Lessor Roberta
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
sociology of health and illness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1467-9566
pISSN - 0141-9889
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9566.ep10949067
Subject(s) - consciousness , occupational safety and health , psychology , work (physics) , health care , nursing , political science , medicine , engineering , mechanical engineering , neuroscience , law
The occupational health beliefs and experiences of flight attendants in five United States airlines were analysed in a three‐year interview and field study. The development of career longevity in the flight attendant occupation, once seen as short‐term ‘women's work’, has given rise to increasing occupational health problems. The health concerns of flight attendants have correspondingly heightened their consciousness of collective occupational interests as self‐care practices alone have proved insufficient to combat environmental health hazards. The case of flight attendants illustrates the problems workers face in legitimising health concerns in a female‐identified occupation, yet suggests the changes in consciousness that occur when women no longer view their work as temporary but as a long‐term career.