Lauren Eaton

I study the distinct ideas, theories, and stories that shape how we think about work. Work is never just about what we do... it is about how societies imagine, value, and organise it. My research asks why we think about work the way we do, and how those ways of thinking shape the lives we lead today. 

Using historical methods, I trace how ideas of work have shifted across time and place. This allows me to show how taken-for-granted assumptions – about productivity, entrepreneurship, or leadership, for example – are not natural or inevitable, but the result of cultural choices and historical struggles. By making those assumptions visible, my work opens space for critical reflection and for imagining alternatives. 

The impact of my research lies in its ability to act as social commentary: 

- Highlighting how cultural narratives about work influence contemporary debates. 
- Revealing the historical roots of today’s workplace challenges. 
- Offering fresh perspectives to policymakers, educators, and organisations on the nature of work. 

Through teaching, writing, and public engagement, I aim to foster conversations about the ways work structures society and shapes everyday life.