PAH 320 - Work Lives: Identity, Meaning, and Change

Work - paid, unpaid, voluntary, or obligatory - is woven into the fabric of all human societies to become part of our identities and key to life's narrative. For many people, work becomes infused with their personal and social identities; who they are and how they define themselves. For others, it is just a boring necessity. This course examines the fascinating story of work, and how people strive for security, reward, and often meaning in the jobs they do. It looks at cultural and social factors that influence the way people work, the meaning they find in it (or not) how work is changing. The course explores the physical, psychological, and philosophical costs, benefits, and challenges of employment and how it impacts people's lives.