Work, Community and Sustainability. Redefining Work through Cohousing

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Prevalent Notion of Work and its Exclusion of Unpaid Activities
• Research Questions and Aims
• Content and Structure
• Methodology
• Sustainability Science, Ontology and Epistemology
• Qualitative Approach
• Case Study Research
• Methods
• Expert Interviews
• Participant Observation
• Focus Group Interviews
• Personal Reflections of the Research
• Reconceptualising Work: The Concept of Mixed Work
• Four Segments of Work
• Achieving a Holistic View on Work as an Individual
• Development of Cohousing and Today’s Definitions
• The First Cohousing Generation
• The Second Generation - Cohousing as an Intermediary Level
• Cohousing Today
• Cohousing’s Characteristics and Variations
• Meanings of co in Cohousing
• The Cases
• Cohousing in Austria
• The Cohouse Lebensraum
• Cohousing in Sweden
• The Cohouse Fiolen
• Differences and Similarities of the Cohouses
• Cohousing’s Comunity Work and its Contribution to Redefining Work
• The Definition of Work Matters
• Categorisation of Work in a Cohouse
• Organisation of Community Work and its Required Time
• Distribution of Work between Women and Men
• Appreciation of Community Work
• Visibility of Community Work
• Benefits and Challenges of Community Work
• Facilitation of Family Work
• Financial Savings
• Strengthening the Group

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis examines how cohousing contributes to an extended view on work, focusing on unpaid activities and their importance for economy and everyday life. It analyzes the concept of “Mixed Work” and explores how cohousing, through its community work, offers a practical approach to a redefinition of work within Sustainability Science. The study focuses on: * **Redefining Work:** Examining how cohousing challenges traditional notions of work by valuing and integrating unpaid activities into a holistic understanding. * **Community Work:** Investigating the organization and nature of community work in cohousing, and its impact on individual well-being and societal sustainability. * **Sustainability Science:** Contributing to the discourse within Sustainability Science by analyzing the potential of cohousing to foster a more inclusive and sustainable view of work. * **Gender Equality:** Analyzing the distribution of community work between women and men, exploring potential for fairer workloads and gender-neutral roles in cohousing. * **Social Sustainability:** Assessing the role of community work in strengthening social bonds, fostering trust, and creating a sense of belonging within cohousing communities.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter establishes the context of the study by discussing the prevailing notion of work and its exclusion of unpaid activities like care work, highlighting the social and environmental unsustainability this creates. It outlines the research questions and aims of the study, which focus on exploring how cohousing contributes to a redefinition of work.
• Methodology: This chapter explains the research approach, using a qualitative multiple-case study design. It outlines the theoretical frameworks of Sustainability Science and critical realism, and describes the methods used including expert interviews, participant observation, and focus group interviews. The study also acknowledges potential biases and limitations.
• Reconceptualising Work: The Concept of Mixed Work: This chapter presents the analytical framework of "Mixed Work" developed by Brandl and Hildebrandt. It introduces four segments of work: paid work, care work, individual work, and community work, highlighting the importance of a holistic view that encompasses all types of work for individual and societal well-being.
• Development of Cohousing and Today’s Definitions: This chapter traces the historical development of cohousing, highlighting its roots in feminist ideas and the "New Everyday Life" concept. It discusses the concept of the "intermediary level" as a space for cooperation between households, and introduces various types and characteristics of cohousing today.
• The Cases: This chapter presents the two case studies - Lebensraum in Austria and Fiolen in Sweden - providing detailed information on their history, structure, and organization. It highlights differences and similarities between the two cohouses.
• Cohousing’s Comunity Work and its Contribution to Redefining Work: This chapter explores how community work in the two cohouses contributes to a redefinition of work. It analyzes the residents' understanding of work, examines the organization and distribution of community work, and investigates its impact on family work, financial benefits, and the strengthening of the group.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study centers on the redefinition of work, focusing on the significance of unpaid activities such as care work and community work. It uses the analytical concept of "Mixed Work" to frame this discussion and investigates how cohousing, as a practical example of a "community-oriented" living environment, contributes to a more holistic and sustainable view of work. Key keywords include: Redefining Work, Mixed Work, Cohousing, Community Work, Sustainability Science, Gender Equality, Social Sustainability, and Collective Housing.