Survival Labor

About this episode

Yvette Butler discusses the concept of survival labor and its implications within the context of the U.S. carceral system and work.

The U.S. carceral system disproportionately harms racial minorities and people living in poverty. Penal abolitionist frameworks have helpfully reframed the conversation to foreground those harmful social consequences. But how do those consequences affect our understanding of work, and particularly work that is both criminalized and undertaken in order to survive? In this episode, Indiana University Maurer School of Law Professor Yvette Butler explains her concept of survival labor and why it should be included in our general understanding of work. Author: Yvette Butler, Associate Professor of Law, Indiana University Maurer School of Law Host: Peter Mason (Volume 113 Podcast Editor) Script: Peter Mason (Volume 113 Podcast Editor) Technology Editors: Sandeep Stanley (Volume 113 Senior Technology Editor), Emily C. Welsch (Volume 113 Technology Editor) Soundtrack: Composed and performed by Carter Jansen (Volume 110 Technology Editor)

People in this episode

Hosts: Sandeep Stanley, Emily C. Welsch, Carter Jansen, Peter Mason

Guest: Yvette Butler

Topics covered

• carceral system
• racial minorities
• poverty
• penal abolitionism
• survival labor
• work

Keywords

• criminalized work
• social consequences
• work understanding

Mentioned in this episode

Places: U.S.

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