People who create, manufacture, or produce things; individuals engaged in crafting or building.
From Old English 'macian' meaning 'to make, construct, do', related to Germanic roots. The agent suffix '-er' creates the noun form, following standard English word formation patterns for occupational terms.
The modern 'maker movement' has revived the ancient dignity of this word, emphasizing hands-on creation over consumption. Interestingly, 'Maker' with a capital M often refers to God in religious contexts, showing how creation has always been seen as a divine attribute shared with humans.
Maker/creation narratives privilege visible individual (often male) inventors over collaborative, reproductive, and care labor (historically female). 'Makers' defaults to product/tech creators, erasing makers of homes, communities, culture.
Recognize that homemakers, organizers, artisans, and caregivers are builders of human infrastructure—their creative labor shaped societies as much as any product inventor.
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