Studies have demonstrated the centrality of work and dignity in men's understanding of themselves and their place in society, especially in rural areas. However, previous studies of work and identity among men have generally drawn from the perspectives of the employed. From interviews with nonmetro prime‐age men (25–54 years old) who were out of the formal labor force (N = 61), we find that men present themselves as deserving of dignified treatment. They do so by drawing on the values of work—describing themselves as skilled, hard workers with a strong sense of personal responsibility. Ironically, this sense of self‐worth can conflict with them remaining in the formal labor force because of how they are treated and how others conduct themselves on the job. In this rural setting, hegemonic market‐based values guide men even when outside the institution of work, yet some men find they can only resolve tension between these values and the realities of employment outside the formal labor market.

中文翻译：

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非工作人员的尊严*


研究表明，工作和尊严对于男性对自身及其社会地位的理解至关重要，尤其是在农村地区。然而，以前对男性工作和身份的研究通常是从就业者的角度出发的。通过对非正规劳动力（N = 61）的非都市壮年男性（25-54 岁）的采访，我们发现男性表现得值得有尊严的待遇。他们通过利用工作价值观来做到这一点——将自己描述为熟练、勤奋、具有强烈个人责任感的工人。具有讽刺意味的是，这种自我价值感可能与他们留在正规劳动力队伍中发生冲突，因为他们受到的待遇以及其他人在工作中的表现如何。在这种农村环境中，即使在工作机构之外，基于市场的霸权价值观也指导着男性，但一些男性发现，他们只能解决这些价值观与正规劳动力市场之外的就业现实之间的紧张关系。