Women Workers and Precarious Employment Flashcards
SEZ
Special Economic Zones: established in 1980 in Shenzhen, China, increased from 310k to 4.33 million residents by 2000, 70% temporary migrant residents
Dormitory Labor Regime
links labor migration and reproduction cycles in rural communities; serves global production
public, cramped, poor work environments blur lines between home-life and work-life
local governments compete for foreign investment, neglecting legal regulations and social provisions
no long-term planning for education, training, housing, medical care, and social welfare
female migrant workers resort to support of familial networks
denies workers citizenship making them half-peasants
Hukou System
formally set in 1958; Shenzhen changed in 1980s, connected to labor control
household registration system that determines where a person could live, as well as their social rank, wage, welfare, food rations, and housing
marriage/childbirth cannot be registered
rural vs. urban residencies; temporary vs. permanent citizens distinction allow state to avoid obligation to provide housing, job security, and welfare to rural migrant workers
temp. laborers must pay fee and live in dormitories
“Nimble Fingers” Argument
The concept that women have more “nimble” fingers and are therefore better suited for jobs involving crafts, sewing, etc.
How do gender norms affect factory work?
Women considered better workers because they are more easily controlled and less likely to negotiate wages/complain
What are the pros of factory work?
Women get a chance to be free from the oppression of their families
Sisterly bond amongst women factory workers
making money/providing for family may result in a higher respect from family/society
What are the cons of factory work?
must live in public, poorly lit, cramped dormitories with no privacy or personal space
low wages, extremely long hours, no overtime, no unions, no time to search for new jobs, get education
cycle of women working to provide for their families, who then grow up to work in the factories
poor/dangerous working environments
fined for talking/not meeting production goals
What are the main characteristics of export-oriented factory work?
low-skill, low-wage, repetitive, unsafe
What are the links between producers and consumers in the film “Mardi Gras: Made in China”?
Mardi-gras parade participants must purchase upwards of 500$ worth of beads, stuffed animals, shot glasses, etc. to throw to parade-goers
Factory workers in China are employed my bead producing factories at cents/hour for more than 70 hours a week
