Abstract
Why would anyone feel grateful for a job? They might need a job to function. They might want a certain kind of job because it’s suited to their skills, training and preferences. But once in a job, if a person continues to do that job, to complete their tasks, should they feel grateful for their continued employment? And if they do feel grateful, what are the conditions that cause that gratitude and what are the results of that gratitude? Does gratitude contradict the idea of a fair and diverse industry, in its potential to entrench inequalities – after all, if a worker is grateful for their position, what will they withstand to keep their job?
This project aims to understand the potential for gratitude to entrench inequalities. The television production industry is characterised by its barriers to entry and freelance
precarity, meaning admittance is restricted, while career trajectories are both multifaceted and poorly understood. This lack of understanding allows the actuality of the work to be obscured; workers might not know what is expected of them. This is where gratitude – for entry, for inclusion – can reside, and this project aims to illuminate the pitfalls of feeling
gratitude for one’s job.
This project aims to understand the potential for gratitude to entrench inequalities. The television production industry is characterised by its barriers to entry and freelance
precarity, meaning admittance is restricted, while career trajectories are both multifaceted and poorly understood. This lack of understanding allows the actuality of the work to be obscured; workers might not know what is expected of them. This is where gratitude – for entry, for inclusion – can reside, and this project aims to illuminate the pitfalls of feeling
gratitude for one’s job.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN) |
| Commissioning body | Screen Industries Growth Network |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2022 |
