Definition:
Exploitation is the extraction of value from people, labour, resources, or relationships under conditions of unequal power, where benefits are distributed asymmetrically.
Usage Context:
Used in economics, labour analysis, social justice discourse, platform critique, and discussions of power and inequality.
Critical Note:
Exploitation is often obscured by legality, consent formalities, or narratives of opportunity. When power imbalance is treated as natural or invisible, extraction is reframed as participation or choice.
Related Terms:
Value Extraction, Behavioural Bias Exploitation, Consumer Lock-In, Administrative Violence, Community Exploitation