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

Cynthia Mejia; Rebecca Pittman; Jenna M D Beltramo; Kristin Horan; Amanda Grinley; Mindy K Shoss

doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102772

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

Int J Hosp Manag. 2021 Feb:93:102772. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102772. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

Authors

Cynthia Mejia¹, Rebecca Pittman², Jenna M D Beltramo², Kristin Horan², Amanda Grinley², Mindy K Shoss²

Affiliations

¹ University of Central Florida, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Department of Foodservice & Lodging Management, 9907 Universal Boulevard Orlando, FL, 32819, United States.
² University of Central Florida, Department of Psychology, 4111 Pictor Lane, Orlando, FL, 32816, United States.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Coping mechanisms; Heroes; Hospitality industry; Hourly employees; Line-level employees; Occupational stigma theory.