Ethnic Behavior in Industry: Sponsorship and Rejection in a New England Factory

Since in industry the job is the symbol of status, the pattern of sponsorship and rejection is related to the ethnic social stratification of the community. Analysis of behavior in a New England factory reveals an informal ethnic system of job occupancy and of expectation in promotion. When management promotores in accordance with this system, its selections are accepted by labor, but when promotions not in accordance with the established pattern are proposed, labor adopts informal and effective action to reject them.