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Low‐paid women: the impact of regulatory change in Australia
Author(s) -
Baird Marian,
Cooper Rae,
Ellem Bradon
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
industrial relations journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.525
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 1468-2338
pISSN - 0019-8692
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2338.2009.00534.x
Subject(s) - pride , prerogative , affect (linguistics) , work (physics) , qualitative research , paid work , political science , demographic economics , sociology , economics , law , politics , social science , mechanical engineering , communication , engineering
How is low‐paid work experienced and understood by women at a time of marked regulatory change? Using a qualitative methodology, we examine women's experiences under Work Choices to assess the impact of the new laws. As in other neoliberal environments, we find that labour standards can have marked effects on low‐paid workers; that heightened managerial prerogative leads to fear and insecurity; and that, in spite of all this, low‐paid women have significant pride in their work. Furthermore, the results of regulatory change go beyond the workplace to affect women as carers, citizens and community members.