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Why Theorise Professions?

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Theorising Professions

Abstract

Present-day sociological studies of professions show big changes happening to professions in recent decades. More people aspire to belong to professions, apparently a naturally good thing. Academic groups are meeting regularly around the world to discuss, theorise and research contemporary professional work. Table 1.1 lists many perspectives for analysing professions; this helps anyone studying professions. This chapter outlines essentialism and functionalism and their critique by sociologists—many professionals still believe these ideas explain their role. Professions involve enormous sums of money globally because professional services are central to modern life. The core argument is introduced that ideas of expertise and goodness have been bundled together historically and used to justify power, status and good salaries. Today, these are increasingly unbundled and re-configured in new ways.

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  1. Waikato University, Napier, New Zealand

    Edgar A Burns

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Burns, E.A. (2019). Why Theorise Professions?. In: Theorising Professions. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27935-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27935-6_1

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