Part-Time Faculty 19
Reflections on the Social Understandings of Part-Time
This section presents seven different perspectives on the meaning of “part-time.” Each
adjunct represents an organized system of meaning that imposes a personal order of social
structure, of personal thoughts/emotions, and personal actions. These social discourses position
the lives of these individuals and define them socially “through politicized semiotic distinctions”
that impose symbolic borders and a hierarchy of signification (Mokros, 2002, p. 8).
Part-Time as Simple Binary Category
When asked, “What does the term ‘part-time’ mean to you?” Richard simply replied,
[Quote 35] I think of ‘not full-time.’ (Richard)
Perhaps this is the most common meaning in society. The dichotomy means one cannot be both
full-time and part-time since these work categories are sharply divided and exists as separate
groupings of employment. Someone works either full-time or part-time. Full-time employment is
the standard form of work and part-time employment is something “less than” or “not” the
standard. Therefore, society politically values part-time work less than full-time work. The
concept of “part-time” is straightforward without complexity, without dimensions, without
tensions; yet it cannot exist without its bordering complement of full-time.
Part-Time as Technocratic Term with Definitional Criteria
Bill describes the blurry borders that exist between “part-time” and “full-time.” There are
still two distinct areas but a third transitional area is introduced. Someone may work “part-time,”
“half-time,” or “full-time” which is determined by a certain number of hours spent per week. Bill
details the percentages of time spent that indicate the three distinctions and their borders.
[Quote 36] I have a notion that the term part-time comes out from health care insurance.
It’s somewhat contractual that it’s not just arbitrary choice of words and many health care
plans, although not all maybe cover those who are employed only some number of hours
per week. Now in my business, the rule that I last recall was thirty hours a week. I’ve
Convention