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Introduction: Comparative Perspectives on Professional Groups

Introduction: Comparative Perspectives on Professional Groups Introduction: Comparative Perspectives on Professional Groups Current Issues and Critical Debates CS Ivy Lynn Bourgeault University of Ottawa Cecilia Benoit University of Victoria Kristine Hirschkorn University of Toronto keywords: comparative analysis F professions F review Professional workers, sometimes referred to as knowledge experts (Brint, 1994) or occupational experts who compete for a niche in the workplace (Abbott, 2002), are key players in the production of knowledge and tech- nology, the economic engines of postindustrial societies. Because of this, sociological analyses of the professions and their changing role in 21st century society are of critical importance. While there has been heated sociological debate in past decades (Carr-Saunders and Wilson, 1933; Hughes, 1958; Parsons, 1951; Wilensky, 1964), and to some extent today (Sciulli, 2005; Torstendahl, 2005), about the precise definition of profes- sions, most scholars have moved in a different direction to study the work and non-work activities of professional groups and how they and allied parties use the discourse of professionalism to realize their goals (Aldridge and Evetts, 2003; Cohen et al., 2005; Hanlon, 1998). This line of sociologi- cal enquiry necessitates engagement in comparative research ‘about how and in what ways the discourse of professionalism is being used (by http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Current Sociology SAGE

Introduction: Comparative Perspectives on Professional Groups

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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
Copyright © by SAGE Publications
ISSN
0011-3921
eISSN
1461-7064
DOI
10.1177/0011392109104350
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Introduction: Comparative Perspectives on Professional Groups Current Issues and Critical Debates CS Ivy Lynn Bourgeault University of Ottawa Cecilia Benoit University of Victoria Kristine Hirschkorn University of Toronto keywords: comparative analysis F professions F review Professional workers, sometimes referred to as knowledge experts (Brint, 1994) or occupational experts who compete for a niche in the workplace (Abbott, 2002), are key players in the production of knowledge and tech- nology, the economic engines of postindustrial societies. Because of this, sociological analyses of the professions and their changing role in 21st century society are of critical importance. While there has been heated sociological debate in past decades (Carr-Saunders and Wilson, 1933; Hughes, 1958; Parsons, 1951; Wilensky, 1964), and to some extent today (Sciulli, 2005; Torstendahl, 2005), about the precise definition of profes- sions, most scholars have moved in a different direction to study the work and non-work activities of professional groups and how they and allied parties use the discourse of professionalism to realize their goals (Aldridge and Evetts, 2003; Cohen et al., 2005; Hanlon, 1998). This line of sociologi- cal enquiry necessitates engagement in comparative research ‘about how and in what ways the discourse of professionalism is being used (by

Journal

Current Sociology – SAGE

Published: Jul 1, 2009

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