The women whose lives were
documented in the film Maquilapolis and
numerous other maquila workers are
mere cogs or minor instruments of labor within the large organizations of US
owned corporations. The women were and still are considered just that, cheap labor.
They were rarely appreciated or valued for their modest work but instead were monitored,
belittled, and harassed. Moreover, the maquila workers did not have stable jobs
because they could easily be replaced by others, predominantly women, in Mexico
who sought sources of income to help support their families. For this reason maquila
workers were not able to express their earnest feelings about their job
assignments or work environments. They either dealt with the situation and
current conditions or were unemployed. The maquiladoras required much toil and
effort on behalf of the women, which often led to overtime or prolonged work
hours. As mentioned in Gendered Violence:
Murder in the Maquiladoras, women near the town of Juarez, Chihuahua would
end their shifts late at night and it is then that they would disappear. As they headed home after work or to bars to
alleviate some stress, “many young women and girls would be attacked, raped,
and frequently murdered”; but, why were these girls the main targets or victims
within maquiladora cities? Femicide frequently occurred within the city of
Juarez due to the sexualization of women within maquiladoras and the many
misconceptions that people had about them. Women within these border cities
tried to make a living but in doing so were forced to sexually please their
managers or supervisors and form relationships with them, causing others to
view and act negatively towards them.
The women that were shown in the film, Maquilapolis are seen as nothing more than cheap labor than can be exploited for profits. Companies use the maquila workers as a form of outsourcing where they can get their products made at very low costs to them. The women who work in the factories do so because they must earn an income to help support their families. However, working in these types of places comes with great risks such as contaminated drinking water and general exploitation of their working hours for such low wages. The maquiladoras have very little interaction with the workers and dehumanize the women due to their necessity to work. The maquila workers are given no security and can be replaced at any time which forces them to oblige to all orders they are given. The workers are primarily women because they have fewer opportunities to work elsewhere, and the employers use this to exploit them. Maquila women workers are forced to work relentlessly because they are disposable to their employee who will find the cheaper employee if they refuse the conditions. The organizations that higher these women workers are searching for the most surplus value they can gain. The more profit they can gain while cutting costs to produce the good results in a successful business for them regardless of the wellbeing of their workers.
ReplyDeleteThe woman of Maquilapolis are cheap workers that produces major profits for these companies outsourcing. The woman working to make a living for their families risk their lives day in and day out because of the working conditions they must work in. From working long hours, to walking home in Juarez, these woman risk their life everyday when having to work at these places. These woman are treated like animals and have to work as if they were slaves. Their bosses and supervisors call the shots, so whatever they are asked to do, they must do so to maintain a job and a good relationship with their bosses. Companies that outsource to bring in a lot of money don't care about the people that work for them, they just care for the money that enters their bank account.
ReplyDeleteGroup 3 presentation response
ReplyDeleteHow is the maquiladora system essential to the economic stability of the United States? Explain!
Most American company tried to find the way to cut costs and gain benefits. Because of this purpose, NATFA has give many America company a chance to produce their products with a low cost as much as they can. With this ideology, Mexico is the best place in the world at that time. Mexico is close to America so they will not pay much for transportation in both import and export. They use labors in Mexican to make products and will export that products to Mexico “for each dollar Mexican make they spend .80 cents in American products”
Why do think the laborers are predominantly women?
In maquiladoras, laborers are predominantly women because woman handle job more effectively and also tolerated under miserable working condition. With the surplus of labors in Mexican, especially woman who have little education or no skill; Maquiladoras can hire these women with minimum pay and little training. This pay rate is low compare to America but it is still better pay comparing to Mexican’s company. That is the reason why many women migrate from different cities come work for maquiladoras; which also lead to changing in the role of women in Mexican society. People tend to remember the horrible events happen to them more than the happiness they had in their life. That idea will apply the same in maquiladoras. NATFA is not only uncovering the revolution for Mexican women but it also creates the environment which the women will have more chance to compete with men in society. The quickly changing in gender role and economic that is one of reason why it has created a disordered in Mexican society. In addition, the damage in environments and the murder of woman in maquiladoras has dominated the good things that NATFA has brought for many women in Mexican. I believe just like Carmen in the movie said she like to work for Sony even they got harass and unfair treatment. She also expressed that how she felt when these companies left Mexico moved to Asia. I think that is one of proof has proved one of many good things from NATFA for Mexican women.
Group 3 response
ReplyDeleteIf the United States were to have production plans located within the U.S then it would have to follow all the regulations that are set forth. They would also have to pay minimum wage to all employees and spend a large amount of money conforming to the regulations. This would cost a lot and make prices unstable. When U.S companies outsource their work to countries like Mexico they avoid many regulations and can pay a lot less. The companies make a huge profit and also charge consumers a little less than they would if production was domestic.
Women have been discriminated for so long that they sometimes just don't think twice about it. They may be willing to work for cheaper if that means any source of income. Women are also more likely to do work that men do not want to or not willing to. Men normally do all the heavy and more physical work where women would do the lighter work. I think that is why more laborers are women.
I completely agree with your statement when you said that women have been discriminated against for so long that they dont think twice about it. Women have had and are still fighting for what id their's and sometimes do not know how to fight for equality. For example the Maquila women workers that were shown in the film are stuck in a vicious circle. They are stuck because they do not have the resources and education that they need in order to fight what their rights. If they do fight for their rights then they are killed or their family is killed. I feel that in order for countries with social injustice that it is the global communities job to hel;p protect those people who make our goods and who help stimulate global trade. We as a global nations cannot turn our backs to those who cannot get help from their own countries. Especially the women in many global nations, not just women in Mexico who fear for their lives everyday.
DeleteGroup 3 Response:
ReplyDeleteBecause of greed in the United States, companies wanted to reduce their production costs and increase their profit margins. In order to accomplish this goal, the maquiladora came into existence, allowing cheap labor. Due to the lack of government regulation in other countries, this goal is attainable at the expense of the workers that have nothing else going for them. They can either work and be able to feed themselves and others or go hungry. With the production cost being so cheap, this allows American companies to offer products at very low prices which allow the economy to keep going with the purchasing of affordable goods.
Women are predominantly women in maquiladoras because of their desperation to work to support their family, the surplus of unskilled women labor and the surplus of these factories make it an obvious match. Women supposedly are seen as having better hand-eye coordination, smaller more nimble fingers and since women are typically not as physically strong as men, its harder for them to work in hard labor or outdoor physical labor so it's simply easier to work in the factory. I have to wonder if the fact that women are forced to take birth control at these factories is also seen as a plus to these women. Many women already have children and due to the fact that it is very difficult to attain birth control usually (due to a poor economy and a strongly Catholic population) if the factory would provide the birth control that could also be a draw to working in the factories (although no woman should ever have to prove that she is menstruating to her employer or otherwise.)
ReplyDeleteIn the documentary film Maquilapolis, it was viewed that large amount of factories were continuing to expand. With the numerous amounts of establishments from the United States many women’s were guarantee jobs but even though they were guarantee jobs they can easily loose their jobs as well. As explained in the film, many of the workers were tortured, harassed, and severance. They were still considered cheap labor and many times be replaced by predominantly women. Women’s weren’t able to work in a pleasant environment. For this reason millions of the maquilapolis workers toil in tens of thousands of sweatshops around the world. Moreover, many corporations in the United States demand outrageously low prices for their merchandise, the manufacturers, and wanted a high profit, therefore wages were cut and compromise their safety. In addition, many times they worked over time and went home super late at night. For that reason, women’s were femicide. Many women’s were killed and murder in the city of Juarez, near the US-Mexico border where all the factories are located. Because of all the jobs Juarez were offering, more and more women’s migrant to Juarez for a better living but didn’t expect such tragedy.
ReplyDeleteHow is the maquiladora system essential to the economic stability of the United States? Explain!
ReplyDeleteThe capitalist world needs those who are disposable and replaceable. You see there is not such thing as capitalism with out those. That is the role the United States has in the context of the maquiladora system. The United States is able to keep the market functioning; it does so at the expense of other nations economy and security. As long as the effects of the capitalist do not reach the US all is well. One of the effects of that can be seen when we experience an economy that is spiraling down. The US depends on cheap labor and production in order to profit as much as they do. It is essential to have systems like the maquiladoras for that reason. Our economy depends on the other nations cheap labor, cheap resources (i.e. gas), and lack of education.
Why do you think the laborers are predominantly women?
The laborers are predominantly women because it is believed that women are more easily manipulated and submissive. Women are physically weaker than their fellow man, and this opens the door for abusive physical acts. They are predominantly women because it is the women who will less likely stand up to a superior who is a male and request for a fare wage. They are predominantly women because besides the jobs they hold in the maquiladora there are possibly no other jobs, due possibly to the heavy importance placed on the production of other nations products (that is where all the jobs are especially if you have not received an education past high school, most of these women have not).
The maquiladora system is essential to the economic stability of the United States because it helps reduce costs of labor and production for the big companies that basically control our economy. If the production costs are low it would mean the selling prices will be lower because the higher the production cost the more expensive products will be. The laborers are predominantly women because they will more readily take the abuse of being discriminated against and the hardships of working bad environments. Women are also known to be able to handle manual labor and have better hand eye coordination than men. The fact that many women in places such as Mexico don't have high education, they will take a job for cheap pay because it is harder to find a job.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately cheap labor is generally done by women for the necessity to provide for the family and their children. Mexico uses the women of their country just as working objects to get the money without taking in consideration the dangers and harmful exposures and situations it puts its hard working women. Unfortunately I think the U.S has a fault in this as well. As big companies I think they should demandad enforce that their workers have a safe place to work. Unfortunately since the vast majority of these women are unducated and in need they sadly expose themselves to such danger to provide for their families.Another thing that really caught my attention and angered me was the fact the women are sometimes ounched in the stomach or that they have to show proof of menstraution. I personally think this is ridiculous! Women should be subject to such thing. But since they need the job and the money they unfortunately surrender to their demands even if it may be put in a dangerous situation.
ReplyDelete