We explain what manual work is and what its characteristics are. In addition, we tell you in which trades and professions it is used.
What is manual labor?
Manual labor is the set of tasks that are performed with the hands, that is, through the application of physical effort. It is distinguished from intellectual work, which is carried out through mental effort.
In general, manual work is linked to the production of basic elements or the maintenance of goods and spaces. May consist of unskilled labor (which do not require any type of preparation and anyone can perform them) and specialized tasks (which require some prior learning and minimal specialized knowledge).
For example, to sweep the street you do not need specialization of any kind, while for automotive mechanics you need certain knowledge about how the car works and about the machines and tools used in the workshop.
Although manual labor It is essential for society since it allows the creation, repair and demolition of goods and structures, throughout the history of society it has been perceived as something from which to emancipate.
In ancient times, this was done through slave labor: forced workers in precarious working conditions, who were involved in planting, weaving, cleaning and other manual tasks. In this way, the rest of society could dedicate themselves to higher tasks, such as politics or art.
At the same time, there have been doctrines and religions that valued manual work and effort, giving it a purifying, redemptive or beneficial significance. These types of discourses have in common the consideration of manual work as a worthy and rewarding activity, which purifies the spirit through the effort of the body.
Characteristics of manual work
Broadly speaking, manual work is characterized by:
- Depends on physical capabilities and bodily aspects of the worker, such as strength, dexterity or motor coordination, for example.
- It does not require prior preparation or, in any case, requires less significant preparation than intellectual work.
- For many It is rewarding on a spiritual level. To the point that many people practice certain manual tasks such as hobby.
- Typically involves routine tasks and repetitive, although in many cases they are precision.
- It is usually lower paid than intellectual tasks.
Manual labor trades and professions
Some jobs that require manual labor are:
- Plumbing. It consists of fixing and unclogging pipes, both sewage and drinking water.
- Carpentry. It consists of woodworking, to carve effigies and utensils, or build furniture.
- Cleaning staff. It consists of taking charge of the cleaning and maintenance of a space, whether it is a home, an office or a public street.
- Masonry. It consists of erecting walls and walls, or making buildings using cement, bricks, stones and other materials.
- Stowage. It consists of introducing or extracting materials of different nature from a vehicle or a warehouse, to facilitate their transfer.
- Harvest. It consists of gathering fruits, seeds, flowers or other agricultural products in a plantation, to begin their industrial processing.
- Surveillance. It consists of guarding a property, controlling access.
- Cardboard. It consists of collecting discarded recyclable material (usually cardboard or aluminum) to send it to the recycling plant.
- Electricity. It consists of repairing and installing electrical circuits within a home or an industrial or commercial facility.
- Firefighters. It consists of fighting fires that occur and rescuing victims of some type of accident or disaster.
- Driving. It consists of driving a vehicle (cargo or passenger), to allow the transfer of people and merchandise from one point to another.
- Automotive mechanics. It consists of the arrangement of motor vehicles of different types.
- fitness trainer. It consists of teaching and controlling other people's physical exercise routines.
References
- Castella, T. (2011). “Is manual work better than intellectual work?” BBC News World. https://www.bbc.com/
- Sohn-Rethel, A. (2017). Manual work and intellectual work. A critique of epistemology. Given Editions.
- Tolstoy, L. (2022). “Manual work or intellectual work?” Bloghemia. https://www.bloghemia.com/
