WAGE SLAVE Meaning and
Definition
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"Wage slave" refers to an individual who is employed in a job where they are financially dependent on receiving a regular wage or salary. The term carries the connotation that the person feels trapped or enslaved by their employment status, lacking freedom and autonomy due to their reliance on earning a wage to support themselves and their dependents. This derogatory phrase typically implies a lack of job satisfaction, with the individual feeling compelled to work long hours, enduring undesirable conditions, and having limited opportunities for advancement or personal growth.
The term "wage slave" is often used to criticize modern capitalist societies, where individuals are viewed as coerced into labor due to the economic system. It highlights the idea that many workers feel little control over their working conditions, have minimal influence over their wages, and are often subject to the demands of their employers. This concept encompasses the belief that workers become trapped in a cycle of work and consumption, often struggling to break free or achieve financial independence.
While some individuals may identify with being a "wage slave" to express their dissatisfaction with the power dynamics in the labor market, the phrase itself is subjective and may not accurately reflect the experiences or perspectives of all workers.
Common Misspellings for WAGE SLAVE
- qage slave
- aage slave
- sage slave
- eage slave
- 3age slave
- 2age slave
- wzge slave
- wsge slave
- wwge slave
- wqge slave
- wafe slave
- wave slave
- wabe slave
- wahe slave
- waye slave
- wate slave
- wagw slave
- wags slave
- wagd slave
- wagr slave
Etymology of WAGE SLAVE
The term "wage slave" is a phrase coined in the mid-19th century, combining the words "wage" and "slave". It emerged during the Industrial Revolution as a critique of the labor conditions and employment practices prevalent at that time.
The term "slave" refers to a person who is owned as property by another individual, deprived of rights, and forced into labor against their will. "Wage", on the other hand, represents a monetary payment for work done. Thus, the combination of these two terms in "wage slave" suggests a conceptual overlap: individuals who work for wages but experience conditions of hardship, exploitation, and lack of freedom similar to those experienced by traditional slaves.
The term "wage slave" was popularized by social critics such as Karl Marx, who argued that under capitalism, workers were often subjected to oppressive conditions, long hours, low pay, and lack of agency.
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