I thought the section of this essay where the boss was also an immigration officer was interesting. It seems almost like a scam for the workers to go into his program. They have to pay that outrageous fee just to get a job! - obviously they do not have the money if they do not have a job already. However it is nice that they can get a free ride home if they stay to the end of their contracts. Having said that - I don't think the conditions are really good, so I am sure that many do not make it to the end. The incident with the flood was hard to believe - the workers are treated more like indentured slaves than employees.
It is disconcerting that such conditions still exist in America... it makes me feel like we have not progressed as far as we like to say we have.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Heading Home
The article "Heading Home: Women, Work, and Identity in America" was one of my favorites of this class. In the article they asked how woman can leave their jobs and become at-home moms without losing social status. I think the answer is that, people half expect women to become at-home mothers after having a child, so by doing so they are not betraying some social standard. Men on the other hand are expected to stay at work, and work, work, work to provide for their families, and if they leave work to become at-home dads then their social status does suffer. It is just a matter of how society perceives gender roles.
In some ways if a woman can leave work to become an at-home-mom then her status could even go up, because it means her husband can earn enough income to support the household solo. It is a simple answer to why women don't lose a social status when they leave work - because culturally we expect them to do so.
In some ways if a woman can leave work to become an at-home-mom then her status could even go up, because it means her husband can earn enough income to support the household solo. It is a simple answer to why women don't lose a social status when they leave work - because culturally we expect them to do so.
The Fire That Consumes Money
It is interesting how much cell phones have become a symbol of economic status in Nigeria, because here everyone has one. It is very rare that you find someone above the age of 13 who does not have a cell phone in America. I like how they call cell phones "the fire that consumes money" because it is so true! Cell phones in Nigeria have both become a "social fire" meaning everyone wants one to have the upper social hand, but also it is a "fire" that is pulling people down by consuming money that could definitely be better spent somewhere else.
This article shows the importance of perceived social status within communities. Although the Nigerian people do not have the money to spend frivolously on cell phones, they do so to project themselves as being part of a higher class system. I think it is important to note that how society views you has important effects on the spending behaviors of individuals and can cause bad spending habits regardless of the consequences.
This article shows the importance of perceived social status within communities. Although the Nigerian people do not have the money to spend frivolously on cell phones, they do so to project themselves as being part of a higher class system. I think it is important to note that how society views you has important effects on the spending behaviors of individuals and can cause bad spending habits regardless of the consequences.
The Kayapo Resistance
I like that the Kayapo is resisting approaching settlers. I have never understood why people think that they can just take away land from Natives Indian tribes like the Kayapo. Just because they have a unique lifestyle, ways of dressing, and religious practices does not mean that outsiders should devalue them and take away land they are using. It has such a traumatic effect on the tribe, because they are not valued by the outsiders so it is hard for them to fight back.
It is unfortunate that the Kayapo face constant pressures of ranchers for their land. We all know if the Kayapo were to start expanding and trying to take ranchers' land that the reaction of the ranchers would probably be devastating and end in a loss of victory for the Kayapo. So why is it when the ranchers try to encroach upon the Kayapo we never think twice about it being wrong? Hopefully the Kayapo's efforts to resist the depletion of the land they readily use will be effective, and maybe people will start to see that you can't just take things from people unless you can pay them for it. Even if ranchers offered the Kayapo money for the land, they would have to understand that the Kayapo have the right to deny fiscal offers - and outsiders should learn to respect those wishes.
This article talks about National Geographic journalist Scott Wallace's journey into the Amazon to photograph tribes like the Kayapo who live completely isolated from the modern world's troubles and technologies. It also gives some more stats about the deforestation of the Amazon.
It is unfortunate that the Kayapo face constant pressures of ranchers for their land. We all know if the Kayapo were to start expanding and trying to take ranchers' land that the reaction of the ranchers would probably be devastating and end in a loss of victory for the Kayapo. So why is it when the ranchers try to encroach upon the Kayapo we never think twice about it being wrong? Hopefully the Kayapo's efforts to resist the depletion of the land they readily use will be effective, and maybe people will start to see that you can't just take things from people unless you can pay them for it. Even if ranchers offered the Kayapo money for the land, they would have to understand that the Kayapo have the right to deny fiscal offers - and outsiders should learn to respect those wishes.
This article talks about National Geographic journalist Scott Wallace's journey into the Amazon to photograph tribes like the Kayapo who live completely isolated from the modern world's troubles and technologies. It also gives some more stats about the deforestation of the Amazon.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Why Tourism Matters
I think tourism is very interesting. I never really thought about the dynamics of tourism, but I have seen first hand the differences between the lives of tourists and the lives of natives. "Why Tourism Matters" reminded me of my trip to the Turks and Caicos when I was 14. I had toured to Alaska before that trip, and I remember feeling like I liked the Alaska trip more because the surroundings seemed so much more friendly and normal. In Turks and Caicos everything outside of the tourist regions was run down and third-world county esk. It was a wonderful trip, but I can see how sometimes tourism does not necessarily help a country any more than it hinders it.
The essay also highlighted that tourism is fun and frivolous, so it is often not studied. I think it is good to study tourism, because it is such a wonderful way to observe how one culture can directly affect another. If two cultures are placed very close to one another unnaturally then an change can be observed whether it is nationalistic or a merging of the two cultures. I think it would be a very interesting thing to study.
The essay also highlighted that tourism is fun and frivolous, so it is often not studied. I think it is good to study tourism, because it is such a wonderful way to observe how one culture can directly affect another. If two cultures are placed very close to one another unnaturally then an change can be observed whether it is nationalistic or a merging of the two cultures. I think it would be a very interesting thing to study.
Just Another Job?
Just another job was really eye opening. I could not believe how distant the parents seemed, because my parents never had a nanny but both had full-time jobs and also did house work. The nanny's/ maids seemed like they were taken advantage of, but I can see how easy it would to keep loading on house work to someone your paying because you don't want to do it.
The kid who took her clothes off and changed five times a day is out of control! - I could not even believe that. I was raised to pick up after myself and was doing my own laundry from the 7th grade on, so I can't imagine using almost a week's worth of clothes in one day. It is odd that the parents are so distant that they don't see their child's bad habits forming. Additionally is is sad that the workers aren't comfortable enough in their work to talk to the employers about problems they see developing. It is as if they are guests in the house even though the recognized more going on than the parents - that is just so odd to me.
The kid who took her clothes off and changed five times a day is out of control! - I could not even believe that. I was raised to pick up after myself and was doing my own laundry from the 7th grade on, so I can't imagine using almost a week's worth of clothes in one day. It is odd that the parents are so distant that they don't see their child's bad habits forming. Additionally is is sad that the workers aren't comfortable enough in their work to talk to the employers about problems they see developing. It is as if they are guests in the house even though the recognized more going on than the parents - that is just so odd to me.
White Privlege
The article White Privilege was right in some aspects and wrong in others. Being a race other than Caucasian can bring difficulties, but some of her examples were outdated or incorrect.
If an institution uses affirmative action they most likely also use a male to female ratio during admissions. Most colleges have to admit a certain percentage of men, women, and different races other than white.
It is easier to go out to a drug store and buy a magazine that feature white famous stars, but if you go to the makeup aisle there is blemish cover for all races and they sell band aids in all colors too, including transparent to match any skin color. Also, the TV has tone of different races on a wide spread range of channels.
If you need legal or medical help - race is not what is going to help or hinder you. That is a fiscal matter. If you need help in our world, you have to have money to back up your requests no matter what race you are.
Overall I thought that this article was a little pompous and she read way too much into the "power" she had over people of a different race. One thing I liked is that she noted that racism can only change if everyone stops being racist, including races other than whites, but cannot happen if just a couple of individuals stop being racist.
If an institution uses affirmative action they most likely also use a male to female ratio during admissions. Most colleges have to admit a certain percentage of men, women, and different races other than white.
It is easier to go out to a drug store and buy a magazine that feature white famous stars, but if you go to the makeup aisle there is blemish cover for all races and they sell band aids in all colors too, including transparent to match any skin color. Also, the TV has tone of different races on a wide spread range of channels.
If you need legal or medical help - race is not what is going to help or hinder you. That is a fiscal matter. If you need help in our world, you have to have money to back up your requests no matter what race you are.
Overall I thought that this article was a little pompous and she read way too much into the "power" she had over people of a different race. One thing I liked is that she noted that racism can only change if everyone stops being racist, including races other than whites, but cannot happen if just a couple of individuals stop being racist.
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