Meaning in the Workplace: A Qualitative Study on the Sources of Meaningful Work and the Role of Gender

Öz

This study aims to explore the concept of meaningful work through its individual, organizational, and job-level sources, as well as the influence of gender roles. Qualitative data were collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews with twenty white-collar employees from various professions and analyzed through content analysis. Findings indicate that the sources of meaningful work primarily emerge at the individual level. Among the individual sources, contribution to others and society, personal growth, work calling, and relationships with service recipients stand out as key factors. At the organizational level, meaningfulness is primarily fostered through managerial attitudes and behaviors and interactions with coworkers, whereas organizational practices and culture have a relatively limited effect. At the job level, autonomy and right of initiative identified as major determinants of meaningfulness. Regarding gender, meaningful work is not directly shaped by gender itself, though socially constructed gender roles subtly influence how women and men construct meaning at work. In conclusion, this study contributes to literature by revealing the dynamic and multilayered nature of meaningful work.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Meaningful Work
• Gender Roles
• Qualitative Research
• White-Collar Employees

İş Yaşamında Anlam Arayışı: Anlamlı İşin Kaynakları Üzerine Cinsiyet Odaklı Nitel Bir İnceleme

Öz

Bu çalışma, anlamlı iş kavramını bireysel, örgütsel ve iş düzeyindeki kaynaklar ile toplumsal cinsiyet bağlamında incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Farklı meslek gruplarından yirmi beyaz yakalı çalışanla gerçekleştirilen derinlemesine yarı yapılandırılmış mülakatlardan elde edilen nitel veriler, içerik analizi yöntemiyle değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, anlamlı işin kaynaklarının öncelikle bireysel düzeyde şekillendiğini göstermektedir. Bireysel kaynaklardan özellikle bireye ve topluma katkı sağlama, kişisel gelişim, meslek aşkı ve hizmet alıcılarla kurulan bağ öne çıkmaktadır. Örgütsel düzeyde, anlamı güçlendiren başlıca unsurların yönetici tutum ve davranışları ile çalışma arkadaşlarıyla etkileşim olduğu belirlenmiştir. Buna karşın, örgütsel uygulamalar ve kültürün anlam üzerindeki etkisi görece sınırlıdır. İş düzeyinde ise özerklik ve inisiyatif kullanımı, anlamın temel belirleyicilerinden biri olarak dikkat çekmektedir. Cinsiyet bağlamında, anlamlı iş deneyiminin doğrudan cinsiyetle açıklanamayacağı, ancak toplumsal cinsiyet rollerinin kadın ve erkek çalışanların anlam inşa biçimlerini dolaylı biçimde etkilediği görülmüştür. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma anlamlı işin dinamik ve çok katmanlı yapısını ortaya koyarak literatüre katkı sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anlamlı İş
• Toplumsal Cinsiyet
• Nitel Araştırma
• Beyaz Yakalı Çalışanlar

Kaynakça

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