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| The garbage dump in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia |
Kristof begins his
essay by painting a graphic and unpleasant picture of a garbage dump in Phnom
Pehn, Cambodia. The problem he identifies is with the American government and
people thinking that sweatshops are a terrible thing. Kristof assumes his readers
are educated Americans, who are aware of sweatshops and the arguments against
them.
The purpose of this essay is to educate and argue against “labor
standards” In order to accomplish this goal the author appeals primarily to
pathos. The picture Kristof paints of “the Dante-like vision of hell” where
children are run over by garbage trucks is purely emotional; quoting children
and mothers who wish for factory (sweatshop) jobs. He also appeals to ethos,
using first-hand experience of watching the standard of living rise, because of
sweatshop jobs.
The main argument against Kristof’s thesis is the idea that sweatshops
are repulsive and labor standards can improve wages and working conditions. He
refutes this argument by discussing the experiment pursued in Cambodia.
Companies worked with factories in Cambodia to establish decent standards and
wages. One of the results of this experiment was bribes were being demanded by
the people in charge of hiring in exchange for a job. The standards also
increase production costs to the point that some factories have had to close.
In his refutation Kristof also explains that in the “hierarchy of jobs in poor
countries, sweltering at a sewing machine isn’t the bottom.”
Kristof concludes by
suggesting that instead of campaigning against sweatshops, promote
manufacturing in the poorest countries.
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| A Sweatshop |
Overall, the argument that Kristof makes is effective because
his appeal to pathos is incredibly strong. His closing statement is a quote
from a young girl. “It’s dirty, hot, and smelly here,” she said wistfully. “A factory
is better.” That is so powerful. His argument makes sense on a common sense
level. Although sweatshops are terrible places the alternative is worse. While
having labor standards in place can improve wages the cost of these standards
take the jobs away from the poorest countries. Companies push for more
capital-intensive factories which are in countries that are “better off”.
