@Azure it's more than that. in the case of tech, classifying tech work as “professional” (white-collar) and not “trade” (blue-collar) was done so that tech companies wouldn't have to pay overtime. this is the computer employee exemption of the US Fair Labor Standards Act for example https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/17e-overtime-computer

convincing people that this is “better” allowed them to get away with the rampant overworking and burnout currently plaguing the tech industry.