Resistance toward the exploitation of women

The exploitation of third world women is becoming an increasing concern while the depths of globalization continue to grow. These women are lured into the various organizations that exploit them with the idea that by plugging themselves into the market economy they will be able to overcome oppression and inequalities with their earned wealth. Unfortunately these women only come to find that they have become a very insignificant cog in the machine that is globalization. It is often not feasible to resist as these women rely on what little wages they earn to provide for their families. Without these wages they risk their family’s very existence, an extremely difficult call to make when faced with the decision.

Resistance is no easy task, but the women know power lies with the numbers the workers have. Alone these women are easily replaced but when all of the women refuse to work, production starts to suffer drastically. Corporations that use these women sight their reasons for doing so as offering money to people in dire need. But these corporations fail to sight cheap labor as one of their chief motives. By viewing the population of women as a resource within their corporation the human aspect is striped from the workers. They begin to be viewed as cheap labor, an excellent resource when trying to achieve true profit maximization.
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/demand.htm

The women exploited in cheap labor are becoming increasingly aware of their true power. Before, they remained silent, accepting their role and not realizing there was any other way. Now these women are able to come together in a collective effort to earn better working conditions as well as better wages and more respect within the work place. Outside of their own efforts, these women will fail to find relief within their situation. These women make many of the things we wear and use on a daily basis but we as Americans fail to ask what we can do to help them. We rarely question the things we own; it does not cross our minds that our belongings can be a product of severe human exploitation.

Admittedly, there isn’t much everyday Americans can do for these workers directly but we can make our difference in our consumption. Making decisions like buying fair trade products or taking interest in common products in your consumption can help not only yourself in your understanding of this exploitation, but the workers who are exploited while making these products. If the American populous can make a change and become better educated on the ways in which we can help these third world women.
HERE