Abstract
I received 124 rejection letters from 124 sociology departments across the United Slates during my job search in 1996 and 1997. In this article, I analyze those rejection letters with regard lo the messages they send to individuals and organizations. I argue: (a) that rejection letters constitute a unique form of mass media in contemporary life as they are sent and read massively by individuals and organizations; and (b) that they may socialize entering practitioners into a specific discourse of attitudes and behaviors, sustaining a particular tradition of collegiality, morality, and interpersonal relationships for an organization, discipline, and profession. On the basis of this analysis, I offer suggestions lor positive change that will promote professional civility.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anonymous. 1976. “Reflections of an Unemployed Sociologist.” The American Sociologist 11, 4:193–198.
Bobys, Richard S. and Cecil L. Willis. 1980.“'We Regret to Inform You.....!': An Analysis of Job Rejection Letters.” Sociological Symposium 31:65–70.
Carttcr, Allan M. 1976. Ph.D.'s and the Academic Labor Market. New York: McGraw Hill.
Eckberg, Douglas Lee. 1984.“Job-Rejection Letters as Bureaucratic Propaganda.” Qualitative Sociology 7(4):340–352.
Feinberg, R. A., J. Mcolistanton, and M. Gable. 1996. “Employment Rejection and Acceptance Letters and Their Unintended Consequences on Image, Self-Concept, and Intentions.” Journal of Business and Psychology 11(1):63–71.
Fielden, John S. and Ronald Dulek. 1982.“What Rejection Letters Say About Your Company.” Business Horizons 25(5)40–45.
Heiberger, Mary M. and Julia M. Vick. 1992. The Academic Job Search Handbook. Philadelphia: LJniversity of Pennsylvania Press.
Lyson, Thomas A. and Gregory D. Squires. 1978.“The New Academic Hustle: Marketing A Ph.D.” The American Sociologist 13(4):233–238.
Roos, Patricia A. 1997.“Occupational Feminization, Occupational Decline? Sociology's Changing Sex Composition.” The American Sociologist 28(l):75–88.
Salerno, Douglas. 1988.“An Interpersonal Approach to Writing Negative Messages.” Journal of Business Communication 25(l):4l-51.
Schutz, Alfred and Thomas Luckmann. 1973. The Structure of the Life World. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press.
Thomas, W. I. and Florian Znaniecki. 1918. The Polish Peasant in Europe and America. Boston: Badger.
Weber, Robert P. 1990. Basic Content Analysis. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Hawaii-Manoa. He is now assistant professor in sociology at California State University-Northridge. Dr. Shaw is interested in the study of deviance, crime, social problems, social control, and organizational behavior. He has published widely in those areas.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shaw, V.N. Toward professional civility: An analysis of rejection letters front sociology departments. Am Soc 31, 32–43 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-000-1003-2
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-000-1003-2