Ravisankar Sweatshop Oppression Summary

Time and time again, there have been opposing views on just about every single possible topic one could fathom. From the most politically controversial topics of gun control and stem cell research to the more mundane transparent ones of brown or white rice and hat or no hat—it continues. Sweatshops and the controversy surrounding them is one that is unable to be put into simplistic terms, for sweatshops themselves are complex. The grand debate of opposing views in regards to sweatshops continues between two writers who both make convincing arguments as to why and how sweatshops should or should not be dealt with. In Sweat, Fire and Ethics, by Bob Jeffcott, he argues that more people ought to worry less about the outer layers of sweatshops and delve deeper into the real reason they exist and the unnecessariness of them. In contrast, Jeffrey D. Sachs writes of the urgent requirement of sweatshops needed during the industrialization time in a developing country, in his article of Bangladesh: On the Ladder of Development. The question is then asked: How do sweatshops positively and negatively affect people here in the United States of America and in other countries around the world?

     As companies grow larger and more competitive, they are looking for cheaper ways to produce their wares and increase their profit. That is, after all, how companies are able to succeed, by giving their customers a comparable product for a cheaper price. This increases sales and the overall bottom line. Which seems to be a beneficial plan for both the companies and the consumers. That is, as long as the consumers don’t know how the product is being produced. The places that produce these products for an extremely cheap cost are called “Sweatshops”. A sweatshop is a small manufacturing establishment in which employees work long hours under substandard conditions for low wages. Sweatshops came about

Diane Feinstein was born in 1933 in San Francisco. Dianne Feinstein has devoted her life to serving the people of California, first at the local level and later at the national one. In 1960, Feinstein was elected by Governor Pat Brown to the state 's Women 's Board of Parole, making her the youngest member in the nation. Dianne Feinstein held her position with Board of Parole for six years, and in 1968 she became a member of the San Francisco Committee on Crime. During 1969, Feinstein was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming again the first woman ever to serve as the board 's president. During the same period, Dianne Feinstein also ran for mayor twice, losing to her contenders both times. In 1978, Diane Feinstein became the acting mayor of San Francisco after the sitting mayor was killed and the following year she was elected and remained in her position as a Mayor, a position she held until 1988. In 1992, after an unsuccessful attempt to win the California governorship, Feinstein ran in a special election for a seat in the U.S. Senate and became the first woman elected U.S. senator from California.

In his opinion essay, “Sweatshop Oppression,” published in the student newspaper, The Lantern, at Ohio State University, writer Rajeev Ravisankar uses his article as a platform to raise awareness about the deplorable conditions in sweatshops. Ravisankar awakens his readers from their slumber and brings to light the fact that they are partly responsible for the problem. His first goal in the essay is to designate college students as conscious consumers who look to purchase goods at the lowest prices. Then he makes the connection between this type of low-cost consumerism and the high human cost that workers are forced to pay in sweatshops. His second goal is to place the real burden of responsibility directly with the companies that perpetuate this system of exploitation. Finally, he proposes what can be done about it. By establishing a relationship that includes himself in the audience, working to assign responsibility to the reader, and keeping them emotionally invested, Ravisankar makes a powerful argument that eventually prompts his student reader to take responsibility for their actions and make a change.

Sweltering heat, long hours, and unfair working conditions are a few descriptive words that Americans use to describe a sweatshop. I believe our judgment is being misguided by the success of our nation, and it is imperative we redefine the word “sweatshop”. Individuals that endure life in third world countries know hardships that Americans could not imagine. If we were to recognize these economical differences it may shine a light on why these workers seek sweatshop jobs. In many of these cases, children must work to aid in the family’s survival. If these jobs are voluntary and both parties agree to work conditions, it results in a mutually beneficial arrangement. One of the worst things we can do as outsiders, to help these impoverished

1. In the essay “Sweatshirts to Sweatshops,” many of the universal intellectual standards are violated. To begin with, the speaker talks about the “little girl…working hour after hour…trying not to collapse from the heat…” and that violates the fairness of the argument. He is trying to manipulate the audience by appealing to their emotional side. This argument is not based in factual evidence, and therefore, could be dismissed by the audience. There may not be a little girl in this exact situation described, and therefore, this statement is irrelevant. This could be corrected by leaving the entire story of the “little girl” out, or an interview of a child that works in the factory could be conducted giving a first-hand look into the

Sweatshops have been around for centuries, beginning around the late 1880’s. Sweatshops are classified by three main components, long work hours, very low pay and unsafe and unhealthy working environments. Sweatshops are usually found in manufacturing industries and the most highlighted production is clothing corporations, who take full advantage of the low production costs of their products. Many may think sweatshops are a thing of the past but they are still affecting many lives across the nations. There are many ways sweatshops affect lives, but a recent article titled “New study finds ‘more sweatshops than Starbucks’ in Chicago” explains that there are many low wage industry jobs that are violating labor laws in the United States alone. The article also reports how employees who are working in such conditions won’t speak up in fear of the retaliation employers will implement. Analyzing Sweatshops through the lens of the Sociological perspectives will help us better understand the illegal conditions of workplaces that still exist today.

1) “Where Sweatshops Are a Dream” is a short article in favor of sweatshops. The author talks about how the living standards rose due to sweatshops when he was a kid (Kristof). This article has a personal story from the author about improving conditions. This makes for a good pathos argument.

By definition a sweatshop is a “negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay in horrible conditions, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay and or minimum wage”. Many corporations in the United States use sweatshop labor in countries over seas such as China to produce their products at a lower cost. As entailed in the letter from a man born in China, many citizens on these countries resort to factory labor to support themselves to escape other sources on income such as prostitution. Without these corporations usage of oversea sweatshops these employees would be forced to return to self-demeaning jobs such as these.

In Animal Farm, George Orwell portrays a picture of a farm that is controlled by the animals. He describes how the pigs control and lead their farm and how they relate to the Russian Revolution. George Orwell views his opinion in this story about the way they rule their farm and how it parallels to Socialism and Communism. Socialism and Communism are the idealistic, fantasy economic structures – both ensure the need of the people in the community – but both have failed and succumbed to dictatorship.

The Sweatshop Watch, established in the year 1995 in Los Angeles, is a syndicate dedicated to advocating for the rights of sweatshop workers. In an article released by the Sweatshop Watch entitled, “Supporting Mexican Garment Workers at the Tarrant Ajalpan Factory,” they delineate the repeatedly ignored endeavors of the sweatshop workers to resist the relentless abuse they endure from the Ajalpan factory in Tarrant, Mexico. The Ajalpan factory, began operation in 1999 and distributes products to numerous brand name clothing companies including Polo Ralph Lauren. On June 10, 2003, as an attempt to ensure that the factory would mitigate the abysmal conditions that they experience everyday, 800 workers stood in protest and refused to work (Sweatshop

In his New York Times opinion column, “Where Sweatshops Are a Dream”, writer Nicholas D. Kristof uses his experience living in East Asia to argue his positive outlook on sweatshops. Kristof wants to persuade his audience, Obama and his team, along with others who are for “labor standards”, that the best way to help people in poor countries is to promote manufacturing there, not campaign against them. He uses Phnom Penh as an example to show why working in the sweatshops is a dream for the families there. They would rather work at a sweatshop than stay in the dangerous garbage dump, searching for something to recycle for change. The writer establishes credibility through his experience

Americans love to shop. With malls everywhere you go, shopping just might be America's favorite past time! When you are out shopping though, do you ever stop to think where all of those clothes and shoes come from? When I was younger, well, actually until recently, I always thought they were all made by machines. Shirt machines, pants machines…you get the picture. I have learned, however, that for the most part, clothes are still made on sewing machines, by people, and often under circumstances that we can only imagine.

When the movie Beowulf was released, my brother was instantly hooked. We had watched it at least 50 times in the first year, even though it terrified me. Watching it again, 10 years later, and reading parts of the original, makes it obvious that we were too young to watch a movie with such content. Beowulf is a centuries old epic that was passed down orally until someone decided to write it down. The story has prospered to the point that it is still taught in schools around the world. The Heaney translation of Beowulf is one of the most popular translations. This epic also has two main popular interpretations. John Gardner wrote Grendel, which is a short novel from the character Grendel's point of view where Gardner tries to determine how Grendel ended up the way he is. The other popular interpretation is the 2007 movie, Beowulf. In many interpretations, the author or director will change up certain characters or characteristics of the original story, which can sometimes be very controversial. As for the main antagonist, Grendel, he is represented very differently in these three versions/interpretations of Beowulf in his origins, motives, characteristics, and the battle he has with Beowulf.

Nice post this week! I agree that when the majority of people hear or think if sweatshops it is in a negative way. I know I did until I learned more about them and what they do for people. I believe that sweatshops are still not okay in my opinion, but for what they are they are starting to improve and are more beneficial and safer for workers. I totally agree it is wrong, but when looking at it from both sides I can see where these people are coming from. Being who I am I will probably never be okay with the thought of sweatshops, but some people need it to survive and support their families. Plus, if we do stop buying from them it will only make it worse for them. I cannot even imagine how much worse it could get! I agree with you that sweatshops function in the framework of globalization. It is crazy how a $2 wage is something to brag about in China, but in the United States, it would not cut it at all. I think if I were running my own business I would use them because I know if I do not it just makes the problem worse, but I would make sure that everyone is treated fairly and has good working conditions. I also really liked your analogy about CSR being the underrated bass player in a rock band! I agree. Nice job this week!