Social polarisation

Social polarisation and inequality characterise working life, with
regard to both paid and unpaid work, in both Northern and Southern
societies, and it appears that patterns and modes of working remain
varied, or are becoming more so . However, its investigation often
enough departs from a notion of "normal" (full-time, regular, skilled,
male) employment in the clear-cut containers of households, companies,
sectors, employment systems and countries that has  roots in Fordist
industrialised societies.   The contribution explores both common
patterns and differences between (European) societies and discusses
whether in this context the concepts of centres and peripheries make sense.