Mental labor or intellectual work that requires thinking and brain power, as opposed to physical work.
From 'head' (mind, intellect) and 'work.' Emerged in the 1700s to distinguish between manual labor and intellectual pursuits, reflecting the Industrial Revolution's division of labor types.
The Industrial Revolution created the headwork/handwork distinction, which has had huge consequences—it led to white-collar and blue-collar class divisions that still shape society and educational expectations today!
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