The spelling of "white collars" involves two distinct sounds: the voiced "w" sound and the voiceless "h" sound at the beginning, followed by the diphthong "ai" which produces the long "i" sound, and then the voiceless "t" sound at the end. The IPA transcription for "white collars" is /waɪtˈkɑːlərz/. This term refers to people who work in professional or administrative roles, such as managers and executives, and typically wear dress shirts with white collars.
White collars refer to a social and occupational class typically associated with office-based professions and non-manual labor jobs. The term "white collars" originated from the color of the dress shirts worn by these workers, which were often white.
Individuals categorized as white collars are generally engaged in professional, managerial, administrative, or clerical roles in various sectors such as finance, law, education, information technology, and healthcare. They usually work in formal office settings, utilizing their cognitive and analytical skills rather than physical labor. The tasks performed by white collar professionals often involve decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and organizing.
White collars are typically well-educated with at least a bachelor's degree, and their income levels tend to be higher compared to blue-collar or manual labor workers. They enjoy certain privileges associated with their professional status, such as greater job security, better benefits, and opportunities for career advancement.
The term "white collar" also carries sociological implications, representing a specific social class within society. It connotes a degree of professionalism, intellectuality, and relative affluence. As a social class, white collars often exhibit a distinctive lifestyle, preferences, and consumption patterns, which often reflect their professional status and economic prosperity.
Overall, "white collars" represents a broad occupational category encompassing individuals involved in non-manual and professional employment, characterized by office work and intellectual skills.
The term "white collar" originated in the early 20th century and has its roots in American English. It is derived from the literal white-colored shirts typically worn by office workers, professionals, and other non-manual laborers. The term was first used in the 1930s to distinguish such workers from those engaged in manual labor or blue-collar work, who typically wore darker, more rugged clothing. This distinction is based on societal perceptions at the time that those in professional, administrative, or managerial roles, which were often desk-bound, did not engage in physically demanding work and therefore didn't get their clothes as dirty as manual laborers. Over time, the term "white collar" has come to symbolize the administrative, professional, and managerial sectors of the workforce.