Health, Women's Work, and Industrialization - Center for Gender in ...

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day-to-day basis, workers seem to be the most preoccupied with the
terrifying and arbitrary authority of supervisors and with meeting those
targets which ultimately control their incomes.
Because nearly all workers in the study experienced similar work
pressures, the specific effects of job demand, decision latitude, and other
dimensions of workplace organization could not be clearly ascertained.
Intervi ewees i ndi cated that work pace vaci 11 ated between hi gh pressure and
boredom. Also, there were differences among firms in terms of task variety;
however, most of the workers were more concerned wi th supervi sory support
and the wage incentive system. While these aspects should be further
investigated, it does seem that the world views of the workers are important
in defining sources of occupational stress. This is to say that most of the
workers, as women from the working class or from a rural background, had few
aspirations about promotional prospects, job involvement and control, and
autonomy on the job. Their concerns stem mostly from the economic need for
work and the soci al envi ronment withi n whi ch they work and on whi ch they
depend financially.
Rotating shiftwork appears to be the major aspect of work organization
that gives rise to health complaints. Sleeping problems, especially
insomnia, are related to the fact of rotation more than to the fact of
shift. Gastrointestinal complaints, especially gastric pain, on the other
hand, is related more to the hours of work. Shiftworkers consult health
providers more often, sustain more injuries, and have higher absenteeism.
Shiftwork and gastrointestinal problems provide the best illustration of
how 1 ifestyl e is ti ed to work demands. That shiftwork di srupts family and
soci all ife and hi nders educati ona 1 and advancement opportuniti es is well
arti cul ated by the workers. Shi ftwork di srupti ng sl eepi ng schedul es and
regular meal intake is also documented. Among the electronics workers, it
is found that when shiftwork demands a quick meal on the run, workers tend
to eat at hawker stalls, which they can most comfortably afford on their
income. Food sanitation, however, remains a problem resulting in
gastrointestinal complaints. Shiftwork is also related to increased
caffeine consumption, which is also related to sleeping and gastrointestinal
complaints.
Exit interviews identify the highest number of resignations as related
to shiftwork. Interviewees suggest that some workers adjust faster than
others. Whi 1 e the shiftwork li terature suggests that longer peri ods of
rotation are preferable for reasons of circadian rhythm periodicity,
cl imatic conditions in tropical Asia compl icate the issue. Many workers
find sleeping during the daytime to be almost impossible for reasons of
heat, traffic noise, and crowded 1 iving conditions. Workers with physical
exhaustion are 1 ikely to decrease social activities with friends from
pre-factory days. Thus, the social circle and social life become more
confined to the workplace and the family.
The general lifestyle of the workers is one shaped by the demands of the
shift system, on the one hand, and by the family system, on the other. The