A tale of two platforms: Habitus as the structuring force of gig workers' experience

Abstract

This article applies Bourdieu's theory of fields and habitus to the platform economy, specifically through an analysis of interviews conducted with 27 Amazon Flex delivery drivers. Utilising interview data, it investigates how workers' habitus, informed by their social background, shapes their perceptions of the platform economy. The study extends current scholarship by theoretically enriching discussions on platform work dynamics. A key finding reveals distinct perspectives between workers with middle-class and working-class habitus. Middle-class habitus frames the platform economy as a casual gig for quick income, while working-class habitus perceives it as a genuine job with expectations of stability. These divergent viewpoints have significant implications, notably in relation to unionisation endeavours by platform workers. This research underscores how habitus-driven perspectives influence engagement with the platform economy and its potential for labour mobilisation.