Waring, A and Waring, Justin. (2009) Looking the part : embodying the discourse of organizational professionalism in the city. Current Sociology, Vol.57 (No.3). pp. 344-364. ISSN 0011-3921

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Abstract

Recent theoretical developments in the sociology of professions reveal how a ubiquitous discourse of professionalism can represent a basis for occupational control that centres on expectations of performance and conformity. Few studies, however, explore how such a discourse is manifest within the workplace and embodied within individual practice and identity. Taking `city professionals' as its focus, this article investigates the relationship between a discourse of professionalism and the creation of a `professional body' within the context of the city workplace. The study focuses on `city workers' based within the corporate institutions of London and Manchester, to show that the `management' and `representation' of a particular body image, developed through a commitment to health and fitness practices, can be used to symbolize the discursive ideals of competitiveness, motivation, profitability, success and, ultimately, professionalism. The study argues that this commitment to health and fitness practices illustrates a degree of conformity to a prevailing discourse of professionalism found within and across city-based workplaces, which further indicates a form of occupational control within the workplace.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > International Centre for Governance & Public Management Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Journal or Publication Title:	Current Sociology
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	0011-3921
Official Date:	2009
Volume:	Vol.57
Number:	No.3
Number of Pages:	21
Page Range:	pp. 344-364
Identification Number:	10.1177/0011392108101587
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/45192

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