Neoliberal freelance work can genuinely provide self-actualization despite exploiting workers

Evidence

Many contemporary critiques of neoliberalism stem from Marxist beliefs in the alienation inherent in industrial labor models. In this model, the worker is alienated from the products of her labor, and the work itself lacks a “sense of meaning.” But according to Marxist traditions, what defines humanity is the “capacity for creative labor.” Although the neoliberal, freelance model of the independent agent has its drawbacks—lack of job security, benefits, and stability—it provides many practitioners with a sense of agency and creativity. And even though the self-branding ideology oversells the ability for most people to engage in this type of work, it is a mistake to presume that it never provides self-actualization. — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, 519

Categorization

• XREF: Complicates the standard left critique of self-branding as pure exploitation, echoing debates about pleasurable labor/aspirational work in platform capitalism. — connects to: New Economy rhetoric framed corporate labor as creative self-actualization to secure unpaid overtime. — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 144; Gig-economy liberation rhetoric masks new and deeper labor exploitation — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 225; The contractor framing of gig work mainly benefits employers, not workers — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 217 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Gig-economy liberation rhetoric masks new and deeper labor exploitation #contradicts (0.90) — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection, 225