Is Work The New Neighborhood? Social Ties in the Workplace, Family, and Neighborhood

Keywords

family ties, neighborhood ties, workplace ties

Abstract

The work–family literature emphasizes how work intrudes into family life, and some scholars suggest that social ties based in the workplace may be replacing ties to family or neighbors. Using data from the Ecology of Careers Panel Study, we describe the prevalence of strong ties with family, coworkers, and neighbors in a dual-earner, middle-class sample. We also examine which respondents are more likely to have strong ties in the workplace. We find that most respondents do not have any strong ties with coworkers; however, coworker ties are much more common than ties to neighbors. Additionally, there are gender differences in network ties and these differences may have important consequences for social support.

Original Publication Citation

Dahlin, Eric C., Erin Kelly, and Phyllis Moen. 2008. “Is Work the New Neighborhood? Social Ties in the Workplace, Family, and Neighborhood.” The Sociological Quarterly 49:719-736.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2016-12-02

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5512

Publisher

The Sociological Quarterly

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Share

COinS