No abstract

Using a variety of sources and detailed information at both an individual and a collective level, Zancarini succeeds in writing a history of the agency of the "subaltern classes" in the broadest sense "from below". Her approach is predetermined, however, by the example set by Zinn's A People's History of the United States, and by a political interpretation of Gramsci's concept of "subaltern classes", summarized in the binary opposition of "dominance" and "resistance". 6 Zancarini is well aware that "one does not strike all the time, demonstrate all the time, or revolt all the time". She asserts that she tried to show the continuity of the daily life of the people, but also admits that she is not certain "if she succeeded in doing so in every chapter". 7 Indeed, a "people's history" that would address daily life in social relations at work, earning a living, family life, social and geographical mobility, and the life course would have resulted in a more complete, but also a completely different book.

This paper begins from the premise that environmental degradation is a profound and present threat and that work time reduction (WTR) -with an associated reduction in consumptionis one of a number of strategies which can be adopted to combat it. As a precursor to looking at how such policies can be supported, our research questions whether environmental attitudes are congruent with work time patterns and preferences. Our initial hypothesis was that those who care most for the environment would work less hours than those who exhibit lower levels of environmental concern, and prefer to do so. However, contra our expectations, our empirical analysis of the European Social Survey shows that those who state they care most about the environment are more likely to work longer hours, and prefer to do so. Overall, men tend to be less concerned about the environment, and work longer. Caring responsibilities, in contrast, fall disproportionately on women. We argue that this reflects traditional gender roles which are a residual from the social norm of the male breadwinner model. Given WTR as an environmental policy the task is to influence preferences and "green" human behaviour, especially among men.