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In sociology, place-work has been defined as the "the interactional process whereby individuals negotiate the definition of a particular place" (Hochschild Jr. 2010). People engage in place-work when they resist, and attempt to recreate, intended meanings of places. This social process occurs for a variety of reasons—social, political, economic, religious, psychological, to name several. To redefine what a place means, people often fight over place-related frames and identities. A group that does not accept the established frame and identities associated with a place initiates a struggle over definition of that place.

A place may have more than one definition simultaneously without contention if one of two conditions is met. First, different definitions of a place must not negate one another. For example, a public park may simultaneously be defined as a festive family reunion site, romantic locale for lovers, recreational field for children, and leisurely place to take a nap. These definitions can coincide without negating one another. Second, if different definitions of a place negate one another, individuals or groups must reach an agreement or understanding about when the definition of the place should change. For example, children may transform a street into a baseball field without confrontation so long as they understand that the street must transform back into a throughway when oncoming automobiles approach. If either of these two conditions is not met, contention over the place will occur.

Examples of place-work in the academic literature include:
 * Sherri Cavan's (1963) study of the struggle between homosexuals and heterosexuals over the definition of a tavern as a gay or straight hangout.
 * Mitchell Duneier's (1999) account of the conflict between homeless street vendors and public officials over the definition of a sidewalk as a vending site or public thoroughfare.
 * Michael Harkin's (2006) analysis of the conflict over Bear’s Lodge/Devil’s Tower as a sacred site for indigenous people or a recreation site for euroamericans.
 * Thomas Hochschild Jr.'s (2010) research regarding the struggle over the definition of an American Legion veteran’s post as a social club for townspeople or a shrine to honor and assist military veterans.