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Divide and Conquer: Social Assistance Clients’ Competing Frames of Social Justice

Author

Listed:
  • Melissa Sebrechts

    (University of Humanistic Studies, The Netherlands)

  • Thomas Kampen

    (University of Humanistic Studies, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Like many other countries, the Netherlands have witnessed increasing conditionality regarding the right to social assistance. To date, research paid little attention to how recipients themselves experience (in)justice in an increasingly conditional policy landscape. Based on 53 interviews with recipients, we distinguish three different ways of framing social assistance: as a right, a transaction, or a gift. Each frame gives way to particular ideas about social justice, legitimates different feelings and leads to othering of fellow social assistance recipients. Bringing together insights from the sociology of emotions and social justice literature, the article empirically shows the diversity of ideas and feelings regarding social justice, illuminates the role of framing and feeling rules in the process, and argues that increased conditionality produces steep divisions that undermine in-group solidarity.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa Sebrechts & Thomas Kampen, 2022. "Divide and Conquer: Social Assistance Clients’ Competing Frames of Social Justice," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 36(4), pages 741-757, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:36:y:2022:i:4:p:741-757
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017021994486
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marguerite van den Berg & Josien Arts, 2019. "The Aesthetics of Work-Readiness: Aesthetic Judgements and Pedagogies for Conditional Welfare and Post-Fordist Labour Markets," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 33(2), pages 298-313, April.
    2. Michelle Peterie & Gaby Ramia & Greg Marston & Roger Patulny, 2019. "Emotional Compliance and Emotion as Resistance: Shame and Anger among the Long-Term Unemployed," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 33(5), pages 794-811, October.
    3. Karen Soldatic & Helen Meekosha, 2012. "The Place of Disgust: Disability, Class and Gender in Spaces of Workfare," Societies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Barbara Samaluk, 2021. "Precarious Education-to-Work Transitions: Entering Welfare Professions under a Workfarist Regime," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 35(1), pages 137-156, February.
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