The Nightmare Ends, for Now… (pages 55-56) (Elizabeth Martinez)
Chun Yu and her friends decided to no longer tolerate Mirage Factory’s negligence towards health, sanitation, and the law, but stand up for their rights. Rather than keeping their silence, they tried fighting for justice by filing a labor claim against the company. They sought rightful compensation for the long arduous hours they worked but were not paid for. Although labor officials were corrupt, Chun Yu and other workers remained united, were persistent, and eager to resist the many inequalities factory workers confronted.
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Tiger Hong (Pages 147-148) (Ashley Marston)
A woman named Yu Wei Hong told Chun Yu Wang of her experiences of transferring from Michigan factory to Sam Kwang factory. She stated that she was given the option to live either in the barracks or outside for a fee to the big monitor and the director. Hong wanted to live outside, did not wish to pay the fee, so she wrote a letter to the office. They did not care and to punish her for rising up, they deducted a sufficient amount from her pay check. In response, she began to gather evidence to take them to court. Another girl in the same situation filed a complaint with the Federal Ombudsman's Office. Sam Kwang found this out and became scared of an uprising, so they met her demands. The woman spread the word of her victory against the factories wishes and confrontation broke out between her and the big monitor. The woman stated, "At Sam Kwang, you are Big Monitor, but when you walk outside the door, you are nothing". Hong and this woman stood up to the factories and demanded their rights in a proper and legal way. These two, strong women stood up to the man and told them that they had just the same legal rights that factory heads did. In my opinion, they set an example for the quieter ones who just did as they were told, like Chun Yu Wang, and opened the doors for the masses to have a say in the system. The bottom up strategy is something I feel is very important to keep the system fair and just.
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Atu. (Like an Egg Hitting a Rock) pg.33- Lina Norena
I would like to identify an example of an ineffective bottom-up strategy which can be found in many chapters of the book as Chun Yu moved from factory to factory. In this particular passage, she tells the story of a heated argument she fell into with one of her "big monitors" named Atu. She describes how many of the big monitors would get paid off by the workers to make their lives "easier" in the factories. Chun Yu was one of the few that would not succumb to this. She describes an altercation between her and Atu where Atu was asking her to do the work of one of the other factory workers who had paid her off. "...$500 to make her life easy. That meant someone else's life would get harder. That someone was me." (Wang 33) Chun Yu refused to do as she was told and this made Atu angry, resulting in a fight between the two. We see these type of injustices in all industries today where there is favoritism among the supervisors and other workers or platonic friendships that create a gap between them other workers of the same ranking. Although Chun Yu was standing up for herself and what she thought was right, this argument was not the most effective way to deal with this situation. Unfortunately, her situation might have been a lost cause even if she approached someone in upper management because of the nature of the factory. The above blog post I think exemplifies a better way of dealing with injustices in a work place although it can be dangerous. Throughout history we've learned about the fear of an uprising in minorities and this in turn causes adjustments to be made within the system to prevent that feared uprising. Real changes have been made throughout history in fear of slave uprisings and minority uprisings and although it may not be the best solution or the definite solution to the issue, it's definitely better than singling yourself out to someone who has power over your job.
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Looking for bones in an Egg - Pages 133 - 135 (Jill Shah)
One of the bottom-up strategy that Chun Yu used, in order to escape the insults and scolding of her line monitor Ying, was by fighting back to her and not accepting the things the way they were and living life along. When Ying accused Chun Yu of lying about the number of pieces she had worked on, she could not take it. Instead of putting up with whatever false accusation the monitor blamed her for, she decided to prove herself and fight back. She told her that if she wanted to she could go back and count them herself and then add them up to see it was right. Further more she said, "If I do something wrong, I will accept criticism. If I am right, you have to give me respect". This shows how much courage Chun Yu had in herself and how she wasn't afraid of the "powers" of the monitor. For her, what was wrong - was wrong. After Ying realized that she had made a mistake by getting into a fight with Chun Yu and that Chun Yu was not one of the weak women, she denied the fact that she was addressing her in the first place. When Chun Yu heard her say this, she got even more furious and asked her who was she talking to if not her as she was looking right at her. Instead of thinking of letting the argument go since Ying denied her talking to Chun Yu, Chun Yu decided to challenge her and not let her get away with it. At first, the other girls were asking her to stop fighting with the monitor but in the end they all realized how righteous it was for Chun Yu to fight for what was right. She set a very heroic example for others to follow.
Another time, Chun Yu had to work on two machines at the same time and hence the pile of her clothes was very high. When Ying saw this, she asked her why she wasn't doing her work properly and why was she so slow. Chun Yu got very angry as she felt like Ying was accusing her of playing around and not working. She started screaming at Ying and Ying started crying. When the Big monitor interpreted, Chun Yu told her off too. The big monitor got very angry and told her to keep quiet or she would be sent home. To this, Chun Yu said, "No work? No problem!" and their argument continued. This shows us how Chun Yu did not get threatened by the threat the big monitor gave her and continued to fight back for what was right. She had realized that her work was very important for them and so she should be given respect as well. Here, Chun Yu illustrates that one should always fight for what is right and never put up with what is wrong.
Response to “Atu. (Like an Egg Hitting a Rock) pg.33- Lina Norena” (Eric Wu)
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you had to say in your passage. It seemed like a lost cause for anyone working there to retaliate. The monitor along with the managers have the same objectives. When Xiao Qing decided not to redo the work Atu told her to do she decided to go to Mr. Wong. Not only did Xiao Qing upset Atu, but she upset Xiao Qing too which wasn’t necessary. At this point, I think Xiao Qing was just hoping that the manager would have a different perspective, but like the passage stated workers really have no say as to what’s right and what’s wrong. The bottom-up strategy seems really hopeless in these kinds of situations because lower level workers have no power. Every decision will be one sided unless you give money to the monitors. This kind of management happens all over the world even today. When Chun Yu and her friends decide to open cases against Mirage I feel like that is the uprising they need to gain support from many other workers. That is the beginning something that will change the work force forever. With the personality of Chun Yu, someone who is not willing to back down, she will fight till the end for what she believes is just.
I think that one of the hardest things to do is begin a bottom-up movment but I think it can be one of the greatest ways to get people to come together. It will not be easy and I think that Chun Yu's experiacne can make that very clear but nonetheless it is still worth the fight. Not too long ago I had a conversation with my father who upon his arrival to the US was a field worker in Northern California. Him and his brother who had both graduated from a university in Mexico as engineers were workers who knew form the beginning of their employment that they and the rest of the worker were being coerced. Both my uncle and my father began a movement and when it was time to show face half of the workers who had said were supporting my uncle and father were too scared to move. This shows that fear is a big force that prevents us from speaking up, but it is this fear that must be a motivating force to get us out of our oppressive situations. Not too long after this failed movement with my uncle and father happened Cesar Chavez gained much more momentum and many of my fathers coworkers joined him. Cesar was able to create this type of bottom-up movement proving that "lower level workers" do have power. Together and in numbers the people who have no power can be heard, its not easy but the change they create will forever be their greatest accomplishment.
DeleteResponse to “Atu. (Like an Egg Hitting a Rock) pg.33- Lina Norena” (Matt Orloff)
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post, I really get the feeling of how strong Chun Yu was as a person. She was very courageous for not giving in to the prejudice that other workers were after being paid off to not work. It is shocking that similar types of favoritism take place in the work force today. If you are being employed, it is your responsibility to fulfill your commitment and not take the easy way out by putting it off on somebody else. More people should admire what Chun Yu did and stand up for themselves and not be mistreated by those in higher positions. There have been many cases, such as with Rosa Parks, where many people thought standing up to a problem was a lost cause, but eventually it led to great change. The bottom-up strategy shows in this situation that because Chun Yu was a lower level employee, her actions had no real effect because her role was very small compared to the factory as a whole. Those who control the power in a company make the rules and can act unfairly to those who are beneath them. Chun Yu’s actions are very encouraging because it gives others hope that things will eventually change and people will have equal opportunities to succeed in the workforce.
Response to “Atu. (Like an Egg Hitting a Rock) pg.33-Thuy Mai
DeleteChun Yu represents for the woman live in a collectivism culture that most women have to obey their parents when they was a child. The different in Asian culture and economic are the main reason for most women become persistent, weak and acceptable. In addition, when you have to live in the developing country, job is the gold that everyone needs to have it. They used to do that in their country so it will not surprise when they will do it the same in Saipan. These women have to borrow a big money to pay for their job in Saipan and now they must keep that job to have money paying for their debt. Just like Chun Yu, these women have been betrayed about the job in Saipan. Not like these women, Chun Yu and some others have unusual character “It is unusual for women in the factories to speak up for themselves so it is a surprise to the other workers when it occurs” (p.34). While the others women accepted the unfair and willing to exchange their honor for the money to support their family. Chun Yu is one of an Asia live in collectivism culture but she has an individualism of America and she does everything for herself first, not for the culture has trained her. I really admire this woman. I think we need more women like her to make a chance for their country, their future.
Response to Tiger Hong (Pages 147-148) (Ashley Marston)
ReplyDeleteI agree that this selection eventually exemplifies a bottom-up strategy, but I have a different opinion on the way that Hong chose not to be the victim. From the start of the passage, it is clear that Hong does not let other people treat her like the victim. She refuses to pay the money required to live outside, and instead takes action to find her own way. Even when she attempts to submit her request to live outside, she refuses to let a lady victimize her and reject the letter, by standing up for herself. I also believe that by continuing to voice her opinion despite her bosses deducting money from her paycheck she makes a fair stance that nothing, not even money, will turn her into someone else's victim. In contrary to the original post, however, I think the passage takes a turn when Chun Yu talks of another girl that threatened to take a similar case to court. I feel like at this point it is clear the the girls were able to use the "victim" card to their advantage. By pointing out the fact that the bosses had been underpaying her, this girl was able to scare the bosses into thinking that if a court saw her as a victim she could actually upset the balance of the entire factory. I felt that this was very empowering and eventually when Hong continued to spread the news despite Sam Kwang telling her to keep quiet this was a final stance of power for those who could have taken their life's position as a victim.
Response to Looking for bones in an Egg - Pages 133 - 135 (Jill Shah
ReplyDeleteI definately see the bottom up stragety in this section of the text. As I was reading I thought the argument was getting intense. The fact that the monitor felt she had the power to pick on Chun Yu show how much they misused and took advantage of their position. She did not only do to to intimidate Chun Yu but I am reatty sure her other intentions were to extorsinate her by demanind money to make her life "easy". Fortunately Chun Yu is a women of courage and with great strength that she did not allow the monitor to blame her for "being slow" and "not meeting her quota" when she certainly under a lot of stress! I mean they all knew she her work was very good and fast even while she was using two machines. The fact that she stood up for her self and demanded respect and recognition was the least she can demand after all the rules and unpleasent moments and circumstances she and others have had to live on for the past couple of years.
Response to "Looking for bones in an Egg - Pages 133 - 135 (Jill Shah)"
ReplyDeleteI find this particular section to be one of the most impactful when it comes to worker power. Chun Yu displays a lot of courage and strength in challenging the two monitors but I think a more important factor besides the emotional aspect is the rationality. She didn't just challenge the leaders after some little thing that maybe even the monitor could have been right about. She bided her time and only challengedwhen she had a definite chance at victory. Her patience is what carries her through a lot of the book, and I think this is what is more emphasized during this section.
Response to Tiger Hong (Pages 147-148)
ReplyDeleteI feel that this best exemplifies the bottom-up strategy, and how vital it is to keeping the system fair but it also makes you realize that these higher ups at companies, don't even treat their workers like humans. They are just objects to make the bosses and company money, forced to perform flawlessly despite terrible conditions and low wages. Because of her courage and the necessity for the bottom-up strategy, workers can have their voice heard and not just be a pawn for the company, but treated fair and just, even if it takes a lot of determination and time.
Example of the Bottom Up Strategies pgs. 101-103 (Stephanie Panozzo)
ReplyDeleteChun Yu is a very strong woman. From the beginning, she states that no one is going to keep her from going away to work for money. No one. These multiple examples have proved just how strong she is, but there is another example that shows the benefits of being a stubborn and independent woman. Chun Yu switches factories and as she does so, she begins to learn how these factories are like individual worlds that have different rules to live by. When she began work again at Rifu, their monitor would always scream at the women and Chun Yu points out that "her mind was ready to explode" (102). Chun Yu, in the beginning, forced herself to deal with the onslaught, willing herself to go because she had no choice. Although she forced herself to go, she did not allow herself to be disrespected by her new monitor. She had the courage to ask for the time off for her English classes and was able to get her monitor to negotiate. The monitor was described as yelling at all the girls but Chun Yu knew what she wanted and what was important for the future: learning English. She was willing to lose her job but in the process of defying her monitor and not showing up for work the next day, she made her monitor realize how good she was at her job, and made her willing to compromise for her skills. "When I went to work the next day, she came into my station. Her whole attitude was different. I think she realized how good my work was, and how productive I was. By negotiating and not letting herself submit to the harsh realities of the factory, she exemplifies the Bottom Up ideal. This whole book is itself a demonstration of Bottom Up because her determination and courage to learn English.
I also think that this scene was strong enough to show how significant it is to stand for what is right and stand against what is wrong. Even though Chun Yu was discriminated, humiliated and even ignored by her monitor, Chun Yu did not just accept the way she was treated. She overcame the fear of being fired and stood for the righteousness. It might have been hard for her to take courage and protest as a representative of all other workers who were neglected. However, Chun Yu did not choose to stay under the condition at which she was put into. She constantly tried to be herself and improve the condition or environment. And I believe the scene greatly resembles the way "promoters" should follow in order to bring the change.
ReplyDeleteLooking for bones in an Egg - Pages 133 - 135 (Jill Shah)
ReplyDeleteThis example is the perfect in displaying a bottom up strategy in that it shows how crucial it is to make things fair and eliminate and unfair advantages. Chun Yu was very brave in standing up to the monitor and not letting the rest of her coworkers discourage her. They begged her to stop arguing but she defied not only the authority figures and her equals but also what was expected of her because she knew that what they were doing to her was wrong. Anytime someone is accused of something that they did not due they should not let anyone tell them to keep quiet and let everyone believe something false about them. The monitors treated the workers as robots meant to systematically work and take the treatment that was given to them, but Chun Yu did not allow them to do that to her and I believe that in the end her coworkers were grateful for her bravery. (Viviana Trujillo)
Response to Atu. (Like an Egg Hitting a Rock) pg.33- Lina Norena:
ReplyDeleteI believe it true in any working industry there will always be favorites, cliques, and employees that have it much easier. There should always be justice where one can stand up for themselves but unfortunately retaliating against a superior can have its consequences where things do not change or the environment gets worse. In most cases with minorities, superiors feel they can create the injustices for workers without having to answer to anyone. I feel people should stick up for themselves and not have fear to lose their job. If someone is not happy with their conditions they have the right to take a stand for what they feel is right. Chun Yu represents a strong willed woman that not only fought for her race but for women that have been oppressed in the work industry that make a difference in their environments.