What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to develop an intersectional categorization that effectively captures the complexities of labor self-exploitation.

February 2, 2026Open Access

Labor Self-Exploitation: A New Intersectional Categorization to Understand its Complexity

Key Points

The aim is to develop an intersectional categorization that effectively captures the complexities of labor self-exploitation.
Conducted a bibliometric analysis of over 40 years of research indexed in Scopus.
Performed a systematic literature review to identify predominant analytical approaches.
Examined interactions between structural, cultural, and technological factors in self-exploitation.
Identified six primary analytical approaches influencing labor self-exploitation.
Revealed that self-exploitation is shaped by various intersecting factors, including gender, class, and migration.
Found that neoliberal and digitalization factors intensify self-exploitation experiences among workers.

Abstract

ABSTRACT : This study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review of research on labor self-exploitation, with the objective of proposing an intersectional categorization capable of capturing the complexity of this phenomenon. Drawing on more than four decades of scientific production indexed in Scopus (1978–2024), the study identifies six predominant analytical approaches: economic theories, crisis and pandemic impacts, creative labor, gender studies, education and employability, and digitalization. The findings reveal that self-exploitation at work is not a homogeneous or purely individual phenomenon, but rather a multidimensional process shaped by the interaction of structural, cultural, and technological factors. Variables such as social class, gender, age, and migration status intersect to produce differentiated experiences of self-imposed work intensification, often legitimized by discourses of autonomy, vocation, and employability. Moreover, neoliberal rationalities and digital technologies particularly platform-based work, algorithmic management, and self-branding dynamics significantly intensify these processes by transferring risk and responsibility to workers. The study concludes that understanding labor self-exploitation requires integrative and intersectional theoretical frameworks that go beyond single-perspective explanations. It also highlights the need for labor and social policies that recognize both the structural conditions and the subjective dimensions of self-exploitation. The proposed intersectional categorization opens new analytical pathways for future research and supports the design of intervention strategies aimed at promoting fair, sustainable, and socially just working conditions

Labor Self-Exploitation: A New Intersectional Categorization to Understand its Complexity

Key Points

Abstract

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