Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work

Author

Casey I. Canfield, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

Matthew Crawford is a philosopher/motorcycle mechanic who has applied his academic skills to describe his life's passion. Growing up, Crawford worked in a car shop and as an apprentice electrician, developing a fondness for working with his hands. Crawford argues that this de-valuing of skilled labor was unmerited and prevents young people from seriously considering the trades. Skilled manual labor provides stable, fulfilling work. Crawford argues that this de-valuing of skilled labor was unmerited and prevents young people from seriously considering the trades. Skilled manual labor provides stable, fulfilling work. While Crawford makes a strong point that it is unfair for workers and bad for society to devalue skilled manual labor, his argument is undercut by his reverence for the blatantly anti-woman aspects of these workplaces.

Recommended Citation

C. I. Canfield, "Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work," IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 7 - 8, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Sep 2011.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1109/MTS.2011.942686

Department(s)

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Manual Labors; Skilled Labor

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0278-0097; 1937-416X

Document Type

Review - Book

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2011 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Sep 2011