634
Challenges and New Meanings to Professionalism in Latin America
Abstract Submissions Closed
RC52 Sociology of Professional Groups (host committee)
Language: English and Spanish
Session Type: Oral
This session expects to discuss the recent trends among professions in Latin America, such as tertiarisation and outsourcing of services, globalisation and the increase of gender/race difference in the profession, vis a vis their historical experiences. How the professional project that was consolidated during the second half of 20th century, in several of these countries, is challenged by various forms of work organisation? A number of these professional groups experience internal fragmentation, peer contestation and diversity. Analyses on professionalisation of new occupations and on established professions focusing on these issues are welcome.
Distinct approaches to these research problems and investigations on the newcomers to the professional world, to the digital platform occupations, new technology experts, creative professions and the outsourcing of services will nourish the discussion. The session also pays attention to how the expansion of digital technology is affecting professions in terms of new qualifications, the vanishing of certain tasks and the increase in freelance work. Even though the globalising process is feeding a worldwide standardisation of professions, it occurs without reducing inequalities among peers and countries. The logics of professionalism in this region need more clarification, to understand the hybrid forms combining other logics such as managerialism, marketisation and global corporations among professions. Gender and race stratification in Latin American professions are critical challenges to professionalism, whose dominant ideals and values took as reference those of the established social class, race and gender.
These are the main questions we invite researchers to join the session and submit papers.