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What are socialist views on specialization of labour compared to task generalization / job rotation? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I see many self-identified socialists imply that, in a socialist society, people would constantly be doing different jobs and would split their labour between many different jobs rather than specialize. It definitely makes sense when it comes to jobs that don't require too much specialization, but how does this work with highly specific jobs that require a disproportionately high amount of resources to become skilled in? Would they spend more time on a specialization, would they frequently rotate the same as everyone else?

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

In a couple of sentences, why should labor be largely interchangeable? I haven't read much but I imagine there's a straightforward argument. If there isn't and it requires a page, don't worry about it! 😊

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

This is a vast oversimplification, but the division of labor itself reinforces class dynamics and can create them, so any good Socialist movement will work against it in the long run.

As for the means, automation and improvements in technology make labor easier to grasp and train for, and thus easier to swap around, so to speak.

Marx envisioned a society where someone could labor in a factory in the morning, fish in the afternoon, and debate in the evening, if they so chose.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

Oh I get it now. Thanks! I've come to similar conclusions about division of labor in families I've observed and its effects on them. In my family, everyone yields the power tools and does the laundry.