Books/Bullshit Jobs: Difference between revisions
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'''Subtitle:''' A theory | '''Subtitle:''' A theory | ||
'''Author:''' David Graeber | '''Author:''' [[wikipedia:David_Graeber|David Graeber]] | ||
[[File:Bullshit-jobs.jpg|200px|thumb|right]] | [[File:Bullshit-jobs.jpg|200px|thumb|right]] | ||
= Summary = | |||
== Introduction == | |||
In 2013, the author wrote an article for the magazine ''Strike!'' entitled “On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs” which went viral. The article was translated into multiple languages. There were surveys done in various countries to determine what percentage of the population considered their jobs to be bullshit. Some people took out ads and posted quotes from the article in public places. In addition to the surveys, the author also reached out to collect testimonials from people on their bullshit jobs. The article is fully reproduced in the introduction of the book. This book expands on the article. | |||
== Definition == | |||
This is the final working definition of a "bullshit job" that the author comes up with: | |||
{{Quote | |||
|a bullshit job is a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case. | |||
}} | |||
The worker's perspective is given the highest priority in determining whether a job is bullshit or not. This definition is thus subjective. Instead of judging a job itself as bullshit from an outsider's perspective, it is better to let the workers themselves decide. The author avoids categorizing existing established jobs as bullshit jobs. | |||
A bullshit job is different from a "shit job" which is just a job that is bad, pays badly and the worker is treated badly. The important different is that shit jobs aren't pointless like bullshit jobs. The author cites the abusive treatment of cleaning staff at his university as an example of a shit job. | |||
While the Soviet Union with its policy of full employment produced a lot of unnecessary blue collar jobs, the current political ideology of neoliberalism is producing a lot of white collar bullshit jobs. There are some aspects of many jobs that seem to be bullshit, but this book is limited to dealing with jobs that are entirely bullshit. | |||
Revision as of 22:16, 23 March 2022
Subtitle: A theory
Author: David Graeber
Summary
Introduction
In 2013, the author wrote an article for the magazine Strike! entitled “On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs” which went viral. The article was translated into multiple languages. There were surveys done in various countries to determine what percentage of the population considered their jobs to be bullshit. Some people took out ads and posted quotes from the article in public places. In addition to the surveys, the author also reached out to collect testimonials from people on their bullshit jobs. The article is fully reproduced in the introduction of the book. This book expands on the article.
Definition
This is the final working definition of a "bullshit job" that the author comes up with:
a bullshit job is a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case.
The worker's perspective is given the highest priority in determining whether a job is bullshit or not. This definition is thus subjective. Instead of judging a job itself as bullshit from an outsider's perspective, it is better to let the workers themselves decide. The author avoids categorizing existing established jobs as bullshit jobs.
A bullshit job is different from a "shit job" which is just a job that is bad, pays badly and the worker is treated badly. The important different is that shit jobs aren't pointless like bullshit jobs. The author cites the abusive treatment of cleaning staff at his university as an example of a shit job.
While the Soviet Union with its policy of full employment produced a lot of unnecessary blue collar jobs, the current political ideology of neoliberalism is producing a lot of white collar bullshit jobs. There are some aspects of many jobs that seem to be bullshit, but this book is limited to dealing with jobs that are entirely bullshit.
