Thesis development for globalization class
Most people view sweatshops as a way of exploitation to third world countries. Powell, however, looks at sweatshops from a different angle. According to his book, out of poverty: sweatshops in the global economy, he starts by talking about the misconception about sweatshops in the United States. Instead of complaining about some of the things like poor living conditions, low wages, and people’s health and safety, Powell focus on what the sweatshops mean to the people and the dynamics of sweatshops at large. He argues most of the people who work in the sweatshops given a chance to leave the sweatshops or stay will opt to stay because they provide them with a livelihood and a better life than the alternatives available for them. According to Powell, the next option for the people working in the sweatshops is to do agriculture, which pays them worse than the sweatshops (Powell). He says the sweatshops allows the people to get exposed and interact with people from developed countries.
According to Powell if the sweatshops increase the wages for the cheap labour, it means the companies they supply to will opt to buy their textiles in another industry that is cheaper or will reduce the number of labourers which will leave many unemployed. He explains the dynamics of sweatshops in that they are a steer-wheel to economic growth in terms of industrialization. Powell argues that it is through the economic growth which sweatshops plays a significant part in that will lead to better wages and working conditions that anti sweatshops advocate (Powell). He says those fighting child labour in sweatshops should instead give a better alternative to the children than just being against the sweatshops.
On the other hand, Friedman looks at sweatshops in a different view altogether. According to the movie, most sweatshops overwork their employees who work up to 18 hours a day with low wages and no overtime pay. Most of the workers are women from third world countries and even teenagers from 15 years. Friedman uses this movie to show the real picture of sweatshops and bring out his arguments about working conditions in sweatshops instead of using mere words. He uses the power of visual to show the exploitation in the sweatshops clearly (Peled). The movie uses a young Girl known as Jasmine, who is not able to visit home due to financial constraints. The girl lives in a room with other 12 girls, and they work for 18 hours seven days a week.
Kenney in planet money argues like Powell. According to him, even though the sweatshops are not the best and do not give a decent life according to most people, it is a better option. For example, the two sisters working in the textile industry in Bangladesh can afford to eat the meals they want, unlike at home in the village where they could skip meals. With the little money they make, they can keep their younger brother in school and send some money to their parents. According to Kenney, the sweatshops are an opportunity for a better future and exposure (Kenney). He talks of Shimu who is liberal and even and has a boyfriend, unlike the sister who is married through an arranged marriage. Kenney attributes this to the exposure from the city life.
Work Cited
Kenney, Caitlin. “Two Sisters, a Small Room and the World behind A T-Shirt”. NPR, 2013, https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/12/03/247360855/two-sisters-a-small-room-and-the-world-behind-a-t-shirt. Accessed 11 Feb 2020.
Peled, Micha. Video. 2006, http://docuseek2.com/bf-china. Accessed 11 Feb 2020.
Powell, Benjamin. Out of poverty: Sweatshops in the global economy. Cambridge University Press, 2014.