3 ms·

So, we agree now that software engineers are not working-class people by any common or accepted terminology?

• sublinear 3y ago
  I still strongly reject your definition of "working class". It's not the common definition by many miles amongst many significant crowds.
  • vertis 3y ago
    It's a long term evolving thing > The working class is classically defined as that class which must sell its labour-power in order to survive.[0] It does go on to define working class as essentially blue collar workers, even highly skilled ones. Which would exclude software engineering. Though I think it should include anyone for which they aren't earning enough to eventually become financially independent through their labour. This would then include quite a number of white collar workers. Certainly there are software engineers outside the silicon valley bubble for which this is true, especially in parts of Asia and India. A good litmus test is if you feel you should join a union then you're probably working class and if you feel secure negotiating your own pay then you're probably not any more. Though I doubt this fits a traditional definition of working class. [0]: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803124750836;jsessionid=86E9D3E9AD64418D104A6A6994842DFF https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority...