Welfare State Summary:

Welfare State Summary:

• Why do we work: Why do we work and what influence does work have on our social position?

Workforce= male and female inhabitants of the Netherlands who have jobs, (mostly paid).

Work is defined as a human activity that is performed:

 With a certain effort  Using one’s capacities  Possibly with the help of tools, like computers etc. Within a socially-regulated need  With the aim to deliver a product or service We work because there is a need for work in our society; work is more than pleasure activities.

The Netherlands is a welfare state= a country whose government takes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens. Children used to work but nowadays due to increased prosperity this is unnecessary.

Maslow’s pyramid distinguishes five basic needs relating to work and the important role of it as human beings. There is a

hierarchy: ascending from the basic biological needs to the

more complex psychological needs.

Work ethic= the value people attach to work: these are social cultural conditions (prevailing moral standards) and the socio-economic situation combined.Work used to be considered as a necessary evil and physical work especially was considered as sth inferior, it was left to slaves and foreigners while popular pastimes for the rich were sports, science politics etc.It was not until the 16 th century, under the influence of the Calvinism, that people considered work to be a moral duty.In the 19 th century socialism and liberalism emerged and both considered work to be a social duty, people could improve their position in life and contribute to general welfare.Now work is considered as both a social duty and a means of self-development.

The higher the education, the higher the salary and status. This is linked to the social position of people= the place they have on the social ladder.Work, your gender, family situation, your social environment are all factors that determine your social position.People with a high social position have better housing, are healthier and perform better at school and have a longer life expectancy due to less psychological problems.

Appreciation of work has changed over time and one of the issues is the division between typical men’s and typical women’s work, as it is narrowing. Men are now working as nurses and women as police officers.

Social stratification= the layered structure of society where the relationship between the social classes is based on social inequality.Top managers and capital owners make up the elite of society and people with old age pensions the bottom.

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