Date of Project

4-8-2026

Document Type

Honors Thesis

School Name

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Sociology

Major Advisor

Dr. Ainsley Lambert-Swain

Abstract

The United States faces profound wealth inequality which has also disproportionately disadvantaged people of color in terms of economic security. This study investigates how participation in worker cooperatives, which provide higher wages and greater worker benefits on average, impacts worker-members of color. The study draws on qualitative interviews with worker members from largely minority-led cooperatives. It explores how the key cooperative principles of democratic decision-making, autonomy, and community engagement can counteract marginalization. This paper fills significant gaps in research on workplace dynamics by applying Blustein & Allan (2025)'s recently formulated dignity-at-work framework to an alternative, democratized workplace model rather than a conventional enterprise model. Results suggest that worker cooperatives tend to promote greater than expected worker autonomy, workplace competence, and community contribution which contribute positively to member well-being and workplace motivation. Cooperatives may serve as viable alternatives to conventional capitalist enterprises through their power redistribution and their inclusive internal dynamics, which can serve as a tool to counter larger systems in place that contribute to racial and wealth inequality. Significant public policy reforms and investments in cooperative infrastructure are nonetheless needed to further the growth and viability of worker cooperatives as an effective corporate model.

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