Professor Fan's March 3rd Presentation
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March 5, 2008 at 10:55 am #5403
Rob_Hugo@PortNW
KeymasterProfessor Fan's presentation was very interesting. It was interesting to see the models of how families of migrant workers are structured in order to deal with the absence of parents. Although it seems like there are relatives that help out with child rearing, I am very curious about how this will affect future generations. Grandparents and other family members may not be as energetic and involved in the children's lives. Are the values of the older generations going to stick with the children, or will they be more disconnected and not feel as much of an obligation to take care of the older generations? I guess the benefits of migrant work must outway the sacrifices parents are making when leaving their families. I keep thinking of one of the women I read about who had only seen her children once in a 2 year span of time. It's hard for me to imagine that a young child would have a strong bond with their parent in this type of situation. Some scenes in the video shown reminded me of children if orphanages. If this is a common situation I cannot help but think that it will have a serious impact on traditional social and cultural norms as these children grow into adulthood and are expected to take care of their parents and their own families.
March 9, 2008 at 6:37 am #32313Anonymous
GuestProfessor Fan's presentation was really eye-opening. It is so hard to imagine one putting up with the factory conditions, demands and low wages, but Professor Fan helped me to understand why they do it and what effect it has on rural families. I found the readings particularly interesting, and in the case of coal mine workers -- alarming (see Chapter 3 in "China's Transformations"). The number of coal miner deaths and dangerous working conditions is tragic.
Here'a some recent articles related to what Professor Fan discussed:
Chinese legislators help migrant workers get default wages, close illegal coal minesChina strives to improve social security for 210 mln migrant workers
China says it is confident of meeting goal for urban unemployment
And this is really interesting -- migrant workers have been elected deputies to the National People's Congress for the first time, so perhaps things will be improving for migrant workers (?)
Migrant workers make a move to the HallAnother excellent presentation. Thank you, Professor Fan.
March 24, 2008 at 6:30 am #32314GuestI agree that Professor Fan had a lot to say. I was hoping he could relate the current migrant problems with problems in America, as a teacher I can use his information to show what our 2 countries have in common. In America today we have many migrant workers as well. In California we do not hear much of them but they exist. Growing up in a smaller agriculturally based town I had many friend who would leave for months at a time to travel to Oregon and pick craps that were in season. My best friends father was raised poor and made a living as a child picking cotton, not all different than what is going on in China today. The Topic of migration is fascinating. I am very glad to have been in class that day.
March 25, 2008 at 3:40 am #32315GuestI agree. I was fascinated by the extreme conditions these workers work under. I could not understand how these workers would accept such low wages and sometimes no wage at all. Now I have a better understanding. It brought to mind the situation in the United States during the depression. First, I thought of the Grapes or Wrath and how workers would come to California because they saw signs that they would be paid $2 to work in the fields. Once they got there, it was more like 50 cents, but they would still work, for they were there now with their families and 50 cents was better than nothing.
March 25, 2008 at 3:45 am #32316GuestAnother connection............ I was reading an article in the LA Times this past Sunday about car washes in California. These car washes are mostly owned by whites or Koreans. They employ illegal Mexicans. They are paid far below minimum wage. The illegals have been coached on what to say should inspectors come. And in the books, employees are earning minimum wage because people who are actually full time employees are recorded as working approx. 10 hours week. (Don't go to the Madrona car wash; it was listed as the worst emplyee treatment in the south bay!) It sounded like the video we watched on the Chinese in the factories and how hard it is to get real information because the workers have been coached on how to lie.
May 8, 2008 at 2:48 am #32317GuestFan's presentation was enlightening, especially from the perspective of an American consumer. Before I heard Fan speak, I actively searched for clothing and other items NOT made in China. After listening to Fan, I truly understand the ethical rationale for such a decision. Issues of economic exploitation, undocumented migrants,
peasant “apartheid” and the discrimination and prejudice peasants face are important considerations for all consumers.May 8, 2008 at 3:13 am #32318GuestI enjoyed his presentation- it made it more personal in what is happening in China. I can't even imagine leaving my kids for a year to go to work. It's not right- one can only imagine what that is doing to the children of China. Since that lecture, I have been consciously looking at what I purchase. It is difficult to NOT purchase things made in China. It is also difficult to understand how my not buying it is going to help anything. I realize that when one person does it, others will follow, but not to the extent that it is going to make a dent. However, each purchase I make now, I see those little kid's faces. Maybe that's what we need to put out there. Obviously, there are political forces at play here, so maybe not.
May 9, 2008 at 3:07 pm #32319GuestI posted a website in the website section of this forum which addressed labor practices in China. It was http://www.chinalaborwatch.org. I actually found a better website that has more current articles about labor in China. This site is http://www.china-labour.org.
For anyone who read the chapter in the "China's Transformations" book where they mentioned the horrible situations faced by mine workers, there is an in depth research report published in March of 2008 titled, "Bone and Blood: The Price of Coal in China." It's 55 pages long, so it's very in-depth. The site has many more research reports and many more topics and links related to worker situations in China. This site might be a good resource for high school teachers to use. Also, if you are concerned about human rights issues, this would be a good site to check out.May 16, 2008 at 6:56 am #32320GuestThe coal mining of northern China is reminiscent of the first industrial revolution in Europe and then later in the United States. There is a predictable curve of terrible conditions being tolerated because of the economic gain until pollution, working conditions, growing demands from the more organized working class begins to address the problems brought on by the work in the first place.
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