exploitation

Exploitation is the act of selfishly taking advantage of someone or a group of people in order to profit from them or otherwise benefit oneself.

Exploitation is a noun form of the verb exploit, which commonly means to take advantage in such a way. The adjective form is exploitative, as in exploitative practices. 

As a verb, exploit can also be used in a more neutral way that doesn’t imply selfishness: to make the best use of something, especially an opportunity, or to create a profit or other benefit. But when the verb is applied to people, it is always used negatively.

Exploitation can also be used in a way that means the use of something, especially for profit, as in Since we have these resources, we should make sure that the exploitation of them maximizes revenue. 

Still, exploitation is most commonly used in a negative way. One phrase in which it has this negative sense is exploitation film, a low-budget movie characterized by extreme violence, excessive gore, gratuitous sex, or other content meant to shock, disgust, or titillate.

The related term blaxploitation refers to the exploitation of Black people and stereotypes about them, especially in movies featuring or intending to appeal to Black people.

Example: The exploitation of workers to maximize profit is sadly widespread.

The first records of the word exploitation come from right around 1800. It’s base word, exploit, is recorded much earlier and derives from the Latin explicātus, meaning “unfolded” or “set forth.” It wasn’t until around the 1800s that exploit started to be used to refer to extracting natural resources from the earth, and then to using someone or something for one’s own selfish ends.

Exploitation is most often used negatively, especially when it refers to taking advantage of people. It is often used in the context of the exploitation of workers by businesses that underpay and overwork them, or take advantage of them in other ways. Exploitation often implies that it’s being done by people who are in positions of power to those without power. Poor people and people of color are often targets of such exploitation.

What are some other forms related to exploitation?

• exploit (verb)
• exploitational (adjective)
• exploitationally (adverb)
• nonexploitation (noun)
• overexploitation (noun)

What are some synonyms for exploitation?

• abuse
• use

What are some words that share a root or word element with exploitation? 

• exploitative
• explicit
• explicate

What are some words that often get used in discussing exploitation?

• workers
• poor
• profit
• advantage
• greed
• unethical

Exploitation is most commonly used in a negative way, especially in the context of people who are being exploited for profit.

The hardest working person in the world likely lives in poverty

Hard work almost never translates into huge wealth. But exploitation of working people often does. The hard work myth needs to die

— The Pileus (@thepileus) June 11, 2020

Human rights abuses, poverty pay and hellish working conditions in the developing world, pollution and waste, exploitation all along the supply chain: your cheap clothes come at a huge cost, for other people #pennys

— John Maguire (@JMaguireCritic) June 12, 2020

So again the people want to feel honestly part of this land and companies want the ability to exploit it without regard. This is just the same exploitation we see of the environment. People are ignored for $$$

— Oliver Yates (@_Oliver_Yates) June 11, 2020

True or False? 

The word exploitation is always used in a negative way.