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How to Negotiate Class Ambiguity: A Boundary Work Approach

Koehrsen, Jens. (2020) How to Negotiate Class Ambiguity: A Boundary Work Approach. Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 49 (5-6). pp. 356-370.

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Abstract

Research indicates that actors increasingly engage in practices that do not match their class background. This contribution explores how actors negotiate class ambiguity through boundary work. Studying Argentinean middle-class actors participating in Pentecostalism, the article draws attention to boundary conversion as a strategy to manage class ambiguity. Deviating from the middle class with their religious affiliation, the studied Pentecostals convert existing boundaries between the Argentinean middle class and Pentecostalism into internal boundaries within Pentecostalism, creating trenches between "highbrow" middle-class and "lowbrow" mass Pentecostalism. The boundary processes point to the ongoing relevance of class distinction even among those actors that freely engage in practices at odds with their class background. As such, the results underpin the need to study not only what type of dissonant practices actors perform, but equally what boundary strategies they employ to negotiate their class belonging.
Faculties and Departments:01 Faculty of Theology > Zentrum für Religion, Wirtschaft und Politik
01 Faculty of Theology > Zentrum für Religion, Wirtschaft und Politik > Religion und Wirtschaft (Köhrsen)
UniBasel Contributors:Köhrsen, Jens
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:De Gruyter Oldenbourg
ISSN:0340-1804
e-ISSN:2366-0325
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
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Last Modified:27 Nov 2021 02:30
Deposited On:23 Feb 2021 13:57

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