The Social World of Seafarers. A Sociological Research in Central Italy

Abstract

Background: This article analyzes the social world of seafarers, with the aim of crossing the boundary defining the field of social sciences and entering the area of knowledge, where, to paraphrase Marcel Mauss, scientists argue for a place. Methods and Instruments: The research is based on an empirical study carried out at port authorities, fishermen’s cooperatives and fish markets in a few regions of central Italy during a two year period using empirical research methods utilized in fields of sociological knowledge, such as: semi-structured interviews, talks and informal conversations. The qualitative research was conducted through Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software using the software Atlas.ti. Our attempt is to study in depth, through an empirical study conducted on a sample of 119 individuals, the heuristic subject on seafarers, in particular sailors and fishermen, specifically from a sociological point of view. The focus is an analysis of the life-worlds of these people in connection with variables such as the socio-economic characteristics of households, the relationship with the primary nuclear family, the element of solitude (in connection with individual feelings like melancholy and nostalgia), the relationship with peers and the crew. Results: From empirical research, it is seen that sailors and fishermen, despite their different local facets, represent a social world characterized by the richness of its material, social and symbolic expressions. The craft of the sea unites them, sometimes creating a subculture absolutely different from that of other populations and subcultures.

Share and Cite:

Maurizio, E. (2013) The Social World of Seafarers. A Sociological Research in Central Italy. Advances in Applied Sociology, 3, 199-205. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2013.34027.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Amado, J. (1985). Mar morto. Milano: Mondadori.
[2] Ardigò, A. (1980). Crisi di governabilità e mondi vitali. Bologna: Cappelli.
[3] Beck, U. (1992). Risk society. Towards a new modernity. London: Sage Publications.
[4] Berger, P. L. (1963). Invitation to sociology: A humanistic perspective. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
[5] Braudel, F. (1987). Il mediterraneo. Milano: Bompiani.
[6] Cipolla, C. (1997). Epistemologia della tolleranza. Milano: Franco Angeli.
[7] Comisso, G. (1988). Gente di mare. Milano: Longanesi.
[8] Corsi, V., Esposito, M., & Meglio, L. (2012). I mondi sociali degli uomini di mare. Milano: Franco Angeli.
[9] Esposito, M. (2010). L’uomo post-moderno tra deriva psicologista e “cultura della scorciatoia”. In: Bontempi, M., & Maturo, A., Eds., I confini mobili tra le sfere della vita. Milano: Franco Angeli.
[10] FAO (2009). The state of word fisheries and acquaculture. Roma.
[11] Gasparini, G. (2000). La dimensione sociale del tempo. Milano: Franco Angeli.
[12] Giglia, A. (1989). Il mestiere di navigare: Immagini del lavoro e del territorio nei racconti dei marinai di Monte di Procida. In: Mazzacane, L., Ed., La cultura del mare. Bari: Laterza.
[13] Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. New York: Aldine De Gruyter.
[14] Goffman, E. (1961). Asylums. Essays on the social situation of mental patients and other inmates. Anchor Books. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc.
[15] Groth, G. (1982). Toward a sociology of fishing. Rural Sociologist, IV.
[16] Heikell, T. (2010). Growing up in a seafaring family: Recollecting one’s childhood with an absent and present father. Annuals of Marine Sociology, XIX, Gdansk-Szczecin.
[17] Hemingway, E. (1996). Il vecchio e il mare. Milano: Mondadori.
[18] Janiszewski, L. (1993). Seagoin vessel and deprivation of needs. Przeglad Socjologiczny, 40, 181-195.
[19] Marciniak, B. (2010). Women as invisible fishing crew members. Annuals of Marine Sociology, XIX, Gdansk-Szczecin.
[20] Mazzacane, L. (1989). La cultura del mare in area flegrea. Bari: Laterza.
[21] Montani, A. R. (2000). Teorie e ricerche sulle comunità locali. Milano: Franco Angeli.
[22] O’Connor, P. J., & O’Connor, N. (2006). Work related maritime fatalities. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 38, 737-741. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2006.01.004
[23] Pellizzoni, L., & Osti, G. (2003). Sociologia dell’ambiente. Bologna: Il Mulino.
[24] Ricolfi, L. (1997). L’analisi qualitativa. Milano: Nuova Italia.
[25] Thomas, M. (2003). Lost at sea and lost at home. Cardiff: SIRC.
[26] Thompson, P. et al. (1983). Living the fishing. London: Routledge.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.