The Impact of Sweatshops

The article Where Sweatshops are a Dream focuses on impact of sweatshops in Cambodia.  The author of the article, Nicholas D. Kristof, is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and in his writing, focuses attention on global poverty, health and gender issues, and climate change. His wife is Chinese, therefore giving Kristof a connection to the Southeast Asian countries. The purpose of this article is to highlight that although people in developed countries have the notion that sweatshops are considered to have harsh and uncivilized working conditions, in countries such as Cambodia, laborers would prefer to to work there. Kristof states his purpose in a straight forward manner, it is easy to understand his opinions on sweatshops. The writer might have a potentially hidden agenda; for people to invest in better working conditions for sweatshops in lesser developed countries, allowing more people to be able to work there. In terms of the audience, the author is targeting people from more developed countries and perceives the reader as neutral, and assumes that he or she has at least a brief knowledge about poverty in Southeast Asian countries, in particular Cambodia. The topic of this article is mainly about how sweatshops do not exploit enough people, as the majority of the population in Cambodia lives in extreme poverty and survives by finding necessities such and food and clothing in the dumps. As developed countries continue progressing, it is often times forgotten that most people in peripheral countries live off less than one dollar a day. Cheap labor is often found in such countries, and therefore working conditions are harsh, especially those in sweatshops. However, compared to other ways of surviving, such as driving a rickshaw in the sun or living in the dumps.

A sweatshop in Cambodia

 The author uses a variety of logos, pathos, and ethos in his argument to persuade the audience. The author uses logic and facts when referring to President Obama and his attempts to create good labor standards through trade agreements.  He also claims that Cambodia has been working with factories to establish reasonable working standards and wages. Furthermore, Kristof exclaims the best way to help people in poor countries is to promote manufacturing in sweatshops. The author proves his credibility by using direct quotes from people scavenging for food in landfills. He also implies that it is unethical to allow people to continue working such harsh jobs when sweatshops and factories although harsh, give workers a better way of life. Pathos is seen in the article when the author talks about kids that haven’t been able to bathe since they were two, and mothers who dream their kids can work in the factories because of the dangers of finding food in garbage piles. Surely this stirs up the emotions of the audience.

The thesis of the author is that sweatshops should begin hiring more workers and expanding themselves to provide a safer way of making a living for thousands in Cambodia. The author organizes his argument by including evidence through facts and quotes, as well as a rebuttal followed by his own opinion on the benefits of sweatshops.  Kristof uses evidence mainly through observations and opinions by Cambodians themselves. The author’s style is quite informal, he refers to his owns thoughts and experiences quite a bit to express his point.

Streets of Cambodia

I think the author was successful in creating a clear and persuasive argument for the most part. However, I feel it would have been beneficial to add some statistical facts as well rather than just quotes and personal thought. Additionally, using some rhetorical questions would have increased the level of ethics in his argument.  In general, the author has several good points to support his argument and points out counter thoughts to his point of view and refutes them.

http://www.catholic.org/news/international/asia/story.php?id=54176  Sweatshop picture

https://daks2k3a4ib2z.cloudfront.net/56378cd5f60b35c75b48f114/56f540698c821b80677a5511_urban-poverty-cambodia.jpg   Streets of Cambodia picture

http://www.halftheskymovement.org/pages/nicholas-and-sheryl Information about the author