A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working Life
Ambiguous liminality used to exist ‘in between’, in a transition to a new social-structural order, but recently, it has gained a more permanent and normalized presence in working life, where existing boundaries are becoming blurred. However, liminality as a continuous state can be individually deman...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Aalborg University
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/113084 |
| _version_ | 1811250769768218624 |
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| author | Hanne Vesala Seppo Tuomivaara |
| author_facet | Hanne Vesala Seppo Tuomivaara |
| author_sort | Hanne Vesala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ambiguous liminality used to exist ‘in between’, in a transition to a new social-structural order, but recently, it has gained a more permanent and normalized presence in working life, where existing boundaries are becoming blurred. However, liminality as a continuous state can be individually demanding. This paper elaborates upon a theoretical understanding of permanent and temporary liminality in working life and examines possible measures to tame excessive liminality. To illustrate the theoretical development, forms of permanent and temporary liminality in the lives of three professionals are analyzed. We found that dealing with multiple and complex work roles independently could be conducive to fracturing work routines, which we identify as habitualized, permanent liminality. Withdrawal to an alternative work environment – a rural Finnish archipelago – formed a liminal space in its original sense, a creative and reflective phase that illuminated work-related challenges. It is suggested that such spaces are designed to achieve simplicity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:09:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1c47341a02144d70a1e54eb81e98b42e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2245-0157 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:09:37Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Aalborg University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-1c47341a02144d70a1e54eb81e98b42e2022-12-22T03:25:57ZengAalborg UniversityNordic Journal of Working Life Studies2245-01572019-03-019110.18291/njwls.v9i1.113084A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working LifeHanne Vesala0Seppo Tuomivaara1University of TampereFinnish Institute of Occupational HealthAmbiguous liminality used to exist ‘in between’, in a transition to a new social-structural order, but recently, it has gained a more permanent and normalized presence in working life, where existing boundaries are becoming blurred. However, liminality as a continuous state can be individually demanding. This paper elaborates upon a theoretical understanding of permanent and temporary liminality in working life and examines possible measures to tame excessive liminality. To illustrate the theoretical development, forms of permanent and temporary liminality in the lives of three professionals are analyzed. We found that dealing with multiple and complex work roles independently could be conducive to fracturing work routines, which we identify as habitualized, permanent liminality. Withdrawal to an alternative work environment – a rural Finnish archipelago – formed a liminal space in its original sense, a creative and reflective phase that illuminated work-related challenges. It is suggested that such spaces are designed to achieve simplicity.https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/113084Health, Working Environment & WellbeingInnovation & ProductivityWork/Life BalanceIdentity, Meaning & CultureOrganization & Management |
| spellingShingle | Hanne Vesala Seppo Tuomivaara A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working Life Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies Health, Working Environment & Wellbeing Innovation & Productivity Work/Life Balance Identity, Meaning & Culture Organization & Management |
| title | A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working Life |
| title_full | A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working Life |
| title_fullStr | A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working Life |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working Life |
| title_short | A Temporary Liminal Space Counteracting the Permanent ‘in between’ in Working Life |
| title_sort | temporary liminal space counteracting the permanent in between in working life |
| topic | Health, Working Environment & Wellbeing Innovation & Productivity Work/Life Balance Identity, Meaning & Culture Organization & Management |
| url | https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/113084 |
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