Stigma & dirty work: In-group and out-group perceptions of essential service workers during COVID-19

• Published in: International journal of hospitality management Vol. 93; p. 102772
• Main Authors: Mejia, Cynthia, Pittman, Rebecca, Beltramo, Jenna M.D., Horan, Kristin, Grinley, Amanda, Shoss, Mindy K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Coping mechanisms; Heroes; Hospitality industry; Hourly employees; Line-level employees; Occupational stigma theory; Heroes; Coping mechanisms; Occupational stigma theory; Line-level employees; Hourly employees; Hospitality industry
• ISSN: 0278-4319; 1873-4693
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102772

•New “hero” status of essential service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. using occupational stigma theory.•Adaption of In-Group coping mechanisms for explication of the Out-Group’s (i.e. society’s) preferred coping mechanisms.•Critical Discourse Analysis of 46 news articles in the U.S. public discourse from March 30, 2020 to May 31, 2020.•Contribution to occupational stigma theory included the use of the constructs for Out-Group coping mechanisms, and a new coping mechanism.•Recommend the continuance of In-Group and Out-Group “hero” messaging for advocacy and public policy. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential service workers has given rise to their newfound “hero” status, resulting in a dramatic shift of their occupational value. Service work has been long envisioned as “dirty work”, and further, stigmatized by members of society (the Out-Group), until recently. This study utilized occupational stigma theory to identify the mechanisms under which both essential service workers and society at large came to unify around the importance of perceived dirty work in the United States. Critical discourse analysis was employed as a qualitative methodology, particularly examining the In- and Out-Group’s coping mechanisms for coming to terms with the value of “dirty” service work heroes. Theoretical implications include the utilization of stigma theory for Out-Groups, and revealed a previously undetected Out-Group coping tactic. Practical implications include the urgency for keeping the “hero” story alive so that all service workers benefit from the movement.