Sunday, November 8, 2015
TWIF Chapter 1 Reflection
After you have read and taken notes on Chapter 1, "While I Was Sleeping," use one of the current events sources linked at http://svhs-hwc-spring-2016.blogspot.com/2015/11/approved-sources-for-twif-current.html to find a recent news article that relates to, supports, or refutes Friedman's assertions. Your comment should include the title of the news article, a link to the article, and a summary of the article including an explanation of how the article relates to an issue addressed in chapter 1 of TWIF. Don't forget to check your rubric for evaluation criteria!
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ReplyDeleteTitle: Inside the surreal world of the Islamic State’s propaganda machine
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Greg Miller and Souad Mekhennet
Source: Washington Post
Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/inside-the-islamic-states-propaganda-machine/2015/11/20/051e997a-8ce6-11e5-acff-673ae92ddd2b_story.html
Summary:
The article discusses how the Islamic State uses social media and the Internet to recruit new members from all over the world. The article interviews Abu Hajer, an ex-ISIS cameraman who recorded hundreds of shots of Muslim markets, celebrations, “everyday life”, massacres, and beheadings. Hajer explains how crucial the media is for the Islamic State. The article continues to analyze how social media attracts members. It states that ISIS produces many segments depicting idyllic life in the Islamic State, then they create videos showcasing extreme violence. These contrasting two ideas help attract a variety of new members. The article then reviews shocking statistics, such as ninety percent of members are recruited online and over 30,000 members are foreign fighters coming from 115 different countries.
This article connects to Thomas Friedman’s point that the world is being flattened for all individuals. This flattening includes terrorists. Terrorist organizations can also use the internet to globally collaborate, Friedman specifically references al-Qaeda. “The World is Flat” was published from 2005-2007 before the outbreak of ISIS and homegrown terrorism. The article, “Inside the surreal world of the Islamic State’s propaganda machine”, ties Friedman’s ideas on globalization influencing terrorists to modern day terrorists’ heavy reliance on the Internet to function.
Excellent!
Delete
ReplyDeleteTitle: Snapple Deal To Outsource May Add Jobs In America
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/business/global/01outsource.html
Summary: The link above leads to an article about how an organization, in this case Snapple, has recently made a deal to outsource with a city in India that would be beneficial to Snapple. In The World is Flat, Friedman is constantly mentioning India and how that country is advancing its technology very rapidly. The article I found, although very brief, supports Friedman’s conclusions that India is leading the global economy because it says that Snapple went to India to make a deal with them which shows that other countries are realizing how successful India is and how beneficial it would be for countries to collaborate with India. Another comparison this article has with The World is Flat would be that Friedman says that India has 245,000 employees at just one calling center business, and one of the benefits that Snapple has with making this deal with India would be that they will be able to, “employ 500”, so this proves that India is creating more job opportunities globally. Overall, this article correlates with Friedman’s idea that India is growing and advancing very quickly, and it shows how other countries are becoming interested in working together with India because of how successful India has grown to show.
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6551075.stm
ReplyDeleteTitle: More Outsourcing Boosts Infosys
Summary: Due to the recent swell of companies and corporations taking advantage of outsourcing, Infosys has seen immense growth. This Indian company is an outsourcing contractor based in Bangalore, and provides services to national corporations. Upon gaining 34 new global clients, the company experienced a 70% profit increase in 2007. Infosys has been able to reach such success by paying employees one fifth of what the same laborer would earn in other countries.
In Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, Friedman discussed his visit to this very company during his exploration of outsourcing in Bangalore. He talks with the CEO, Nandan Nilekani, who is addressed in this article. The ideas in the news release correlate directly with Friedman's depiction of the company in his book. As part of the revelation that Friedman makes as a result of his visit to Infosys, he explains, "... countries like India are now able to compete for global knowledge work as never before- and America had better get ready for this." His newfound understanding of outsourcing in India expresses that Infosys will lead India to be just as powerful in the industry as other national leaders. The article proves Friedman's point by presenting the immense growth of India's outsourcing industry.
Title: Politicians Criticise SPP’s Outsourcing of Jobs to India
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-33614174
Summary:
Scottish Provincial Press is a newspaper publishing company who outsourced design work to a company in India. This outsourcing caused eleven people to lose their jobs to people in another country. Thomas Friedman talks about the benefits of outsourcing in The World Is Flat but he does not talk much about the disadvantages. It is cheaper for companies to send work to India but if too many jobs are outsourced, more people will be left unemployed because they weren’t needed in the company anymore. More businesses are outsourcing more work as it gets easier because of new technology which is benefiting India’s people and economy but it is taking away jobs of people in the company’s own country.
Article Title: With Tech Outsourcing, The Internet Can Be 'A Scary Place'
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2014/02/26/282935216/with-tech-outsourcing-the-internet-can-be-a-scary-place
This article focuses on the growing number of companies outsourcing work and data to other countries. In the article, it is said that there has been an increase in the number of data theft cases due to weak or nonexistent security measures in the countries handling the information. In the first chapter, Friedman gives an example of outsourcing work when he explains how tax returns can be managed by people in Bangalore. He also explains that many companies choose to send their work overseas because of the difference in price for the employer. Companies can pay workers in India and other countries far less money than workers in America because the cost of living is often much lower. However, many of these foreign companies have outdated computers and software, leaving them vulnerable to hackers. This raises the problem of data theft and fraud, which is a huge deal for the company's customers.
Title: Xi says 'without reform' no progress for business in China
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Gene Johnson and Phuong Le
Source: Christian Science Monitor
Link: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0923/Xi-says-without-reform-no-progress-for-business-in-China
Summary: The article discusses how in order for the Chinese economy to advance any further, new international trade agreements and regulations must take effect. At the same time, older Chinese trade regulations from the Maoist era must be removed and/or lessened in scope. In doing so the Chinese market will become more open to foreign investment as well as allowing domestic corporations greater liberties when conducting foreign business. For the most part the U.S and western nations are open to the idea however, they and Chinese officials alike are worried that the more a open world economy may provide the already powerful Chinese hacking groups more opportunities to take attack both the Chinese government and western nations.
Explanation: In chapter 1 of TWIF Friedman states that in order for a more powerful world economy eastern economic powerhouses, namely the PRC, must be more open to western trade and foreign trade as a whole. This relates to the article as both make the statement that China is need of economic and trade reform in order for both China and the World Economy to continue to expand and prosper.
Title: Xi says 'without reform' no progress for business in China
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Gene Johnson and Phuong Le
Source: Christian Science Monitor
Link: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0923/Xi-says-without-reform-no-progress-for-business-in-China
Summary: The article discusses how in order for the Chinese economy to advance any further, new international trade agreements and regulations must take effect. At the same time, older Chinese trade regulations from the Maoist era must be removed and/or lessened in scope. In doing so the Chinese market will become more open to foreign investment as well as allowing domestic corporations greater liberties when conducting foreign business. For the most part the U.S and western nations are open to the idea however, they and Chinese officials alike are worried that the more a open world economy may provide the already powerful Chinese hacking groups more opportunities to take attack both the Chinese government and western nations.
Explanation: In chapter 1 of TWIF Friedman states that in order for a more powerful world economy eastern economic powerhouses, namely the PRC, must be more open to western trade and foreign trade as a whole. This relates to the article as both make the statement that China is need of economic and trade reform in order for both China and the World Economy to continue to expand and prosper.
Title: Twitter Sued for Enabling “Explosive Growth of ISIS"
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.fastcompany.com/3055508/fast-feed/twitter-sued-for-enabling-explosive-growth-of-isis
Summary:
The article states the displeasure of a widowed women, who's husband lost his life in a Jordanian training center. She sued twitter after ISIS has “used Twitter to attract new recruits and to disseminate propaganda, and that the site has "knowingly or with willful blindness" aided terrorists as a result”. ISIS uses the social media to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who dares looks and/or reads their content. She says later that "Without Twitter, the explosive growth of ISIS over the last few years into the most-feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible,”. Fast company also wrote that twitters hate speech policy is a lot less restrictive than that of Facebook’s as they only apply to race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Friedman’s TWIF connects with this article as ISIS is using social media to recruit and spread fear and in turn, flattening the world similar to a way that Friedman describes as flattening the world.
Title: Call Centers Call On Multilingual Portuguese
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/07/08/199032441/Call-Centers-Call-On-Multilingual-Portuguese
Summary/Explanation:
This article describes in detail call centers, as well as mentioning outsourcing. A woman who speaks five languages was in need of job, and after being turned down several times, she sent her last resume to a call center. Here, she received the job, enjoyed it, and was able to stay with her family. The article also mentions and elaborates on outsourcing as a hope for economic growth in Portugal. Many multinational companies reach out to Portugal as they provide low wages, talent for languages, and high unemployment.
The points and topics mentioned by Friedman and those in this article relate to each other in several aspects. In the first chapter, Friedman talks about his visit to a call call center in India. Both descriptions of the call centers are similar and use what Friedman refers to as a “flat accent”. The article also mentions outsourcing which is a common topic for the book. Although the novel goes into greater detail about outsourcing and its benefits, the article also mentions it and it’s relevance to the call center and the economy of Portugal. The common reason for outsourcing as mentioned by both resources is the cheapness of it.
Title: Chips on their shoulders
ReplyDeleteLink http://www.economist.com/news/business/21688871-china-wants-become-superpower-semiconductors-and-plans-spend-colossal-sums
Summary:
This article discusses how recently the Chinese government has begun increasing the amount of money it puts into its semiconductor industry. It says that in recent years there has been an influx in the amount of money they put into this industry. They have done this in order to make China a global superpower in the semiconductor industry. In the next ten years China wants to be the country that supplies over 70% of the chips and microchips to the global market. Even though in recent years China’s industry has been growing, it still has a long way to go before it reaches its goal, considering that last year it accounted for a relatively small portion of the global markets chips. This relates to Friedman’s idea of the world becoming flat with the idea that China is trying to monopolize the global market that was created due to the worlds flattening, in order to gain greater power throughout the world. Plus, it can use a lot of the information that has already been created across different continents and oceans to help them with their own plans. Thus the worlds flattening that Friedman discusses helps not just specific countries such as the United States but also countries that exist far from its shores like China.
Title: Are Tablets Good for Children?
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3tsyrd#z87tpv4
Technology is thought to be bad for children, however there are multiple ways that technology can be beneficial to young children. For instance, it can help them communicate using video-chatting and they can use games to help them demonstrate emotions. These games can also be used as a way for these children to learn. Developers are creating games and apps as educational sources for young children. Parents can help this learning process by supporting their children them involved in other online activities to help them grow. This article relates to The World is Flat because it discusses how technology can be used as an educational source and a way to communicate, which is described by the author as a flattener.
Title:Cheap Labor: U.S. Competes With India For Call Center Jobs
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2010/08/18/129273964/cheap-labor-u-s-competes-with-india-for-call-center-jobs
Summary/Explanation: Many companies in the U.S. are now fighting for their call centers to be moved back into the United States. People nowadays are willing to be paid less if they are allowed to work from home. Genpact only has 1,500 employees in the U.S. right now, and they plan to triple that number in the next two years. Indian people are starting to complain about their low wage jobs and are expecting to be paid more, and these large companies will have to find another place to outsource jobs to. Wipro, a company based in Bangalore, India, is now outsourcing jobs for their company to European and Middle eastern countries, and they are trying to do what the U.S. has been doing to India. This article refutes Friedman’s points in a way because Friedman talked about how outsourcing to India will allow people in the U.S. to have more hands-on, creative jobs, but now people want to work from home even if they get paid a low salary. The world is getting flatter and flatter and the fact that India now is outsourcing to other countries shows the progression of the flattening world. To conclude, this article refuted Friedman’s point about how outsourcing to India benefitted both the U.S. and India, but now people in the U.S. are okay with having a low salary job as long as they can stay in their own home and work.
Title: Made in the U.S.A., but Banked Overseas
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/business/made-in-the-usa-but-banked-overseas.html
Summary:
This article contrasts multinational corporations based in the United States, and those not in the United States. They are mainly contrasted with regards to the taxes each must pay. If a corporation is based in the United States, they must pay the statutory tax rate of 35 percent for all profits. However, for corporations based in foreign countries, these high taxes do not necessarily need to be paid. This is how it works: when these companies are prompted by the Internal Revenue Service to pay their taxes, the companies claim that their profits are being earned within a certain country where taxes are seemingly nonexistent.
This article relates to Thomas Friedman's assertions in chapter one, "While I was sleeping." The paramount assertion that Friedman makes in this chapter is that "The world is flat." What Friedman means by this is that the world is now extremely interconnected, and that it is very easy to now communicate with others around the world. A certain aspect of this article, the fact that American corporations are taking advantage of a lack of taxes in foreign countries and then basing their corporations there, fully supports Friedman's assertion that the world is flat. Countries such as the United States are so connected with other nations that they can decide to base their organizations within another country, and then profit from doing so.
Author: Katie Benner
ReplyDeleteTitle: Looking for Signs That Apple’s Runaway Growth Is Waning
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/technology/looking-for-signs-that-apples-runaway-growth-is-waning.html?&hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
Summary: This article discusses how the once big technology platform of Apple is now starting to slow down in terms of its growth. People would look for big Apple products in technology to assist them. Now since modern technology is rapidly advancing and is moving forward, Apple is not the only big name technology company out there. New competitors to Apple arose during the modern times, which are all competing and produce products as good as Apple does or even better. Studies show that other technology companies like Amazon and Netflix are considered to grow, while Apple is slowly decreasing in growth. Other competitors are looking to overtake Apple as the top dog in the technology field, and many technology companies can soon do this, however people do not know what Apple has in store in the future yet. This article relates to Friedman's arguments in chapter one of the book in many ways. For example, in chapter one Friedman discusses how smaller companies can compete with the bigger companies, and in this case smaller technology companies are trying to overthrow Apple. Friedman also goes into depth on how technology is constantly improving and changing, and in the article other companies technology is improving in order to compete with Apple's technology.
Title: Going Online to Outsource Your Chores
ReplyDeleteSource NPR
Author: Neal Conan
Link: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/17/163095702/going-online-to-outsource-your-chores
Summary: This article explains how people are using the Internet to find small, part-time jobs. TaskRabbit and Postmates are only two companies who will connect employers with people who are willing to work their part time job. These jobs are not always first come, first serve, and employers are allowed to hire based upon who is willing to work for the least amount of money. These types of companies are helping employers source work from a field of their choosing. In "While I was Sleeping" Friedman talks about how the Internet has increased the possibilities of outsourcing. A good example from the book is the McDonald's in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. When you pull up to the drive through, you are not talking to a worker inside. "The order taker is in a call center in Colorado Springs, more than 900 miles, or 1450 kilometers away, connected to the customer and to the workers preparing the food by high-speed data lines" (Friedman 40).
Title: Will China's woes infect the world?
ReplyDeleteLink: http://theweek.com/articles/599296/chinas-woes-infect-world
Summary:
Recently, the stock market in China drastically worsened, and countries all over the globe cannot ignore that this is an issue. Even though Shanghai's index is very small compared to the big financial hubs across the world, like New York, the consequences of it beginning the new year with a 15 percent drop can be felt around the world. For example, the stocks in the United States had their worst opening week in history. This dramatic effect is due largely because China is a major trading partner with many countries, and the world depends on China to power development. As a result, America's economy is dropping, because demands for American products are decreasing, and therefore American companies are forced to fire workers. This article is a prime example that supports Friedman's argument that the world is flat, because only in a world with a level playing field would the economic crisis in one country have such a severe consequence in the countries that are connected to it. Essentially, the cooperation, collaboration, and relationships between countries that Friedman describes in his book is exemplified by the economic crisis in China that is infecting the world; it is occurring because the world is flat and completely interconnected.
Title: ISIS Video Appears to Show Paris Assailants Earlier in Syria and Iraq
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/world/middleeast/isis-video-paris-attacks.html?hpw&rref=world&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0
This article explains how ISIS released a video showing the men involved in the November terrorist attacks. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, released a video of the men who were thought to have carried out the attack on Paris during November. The video shows the men killing innocent victims by beheadings and proudly displaying the dead. Also in the video, Abdelhamid Abaaoud appears and states, “We will not stop fighting you in every part of the world regardless of whether you are on a tourism trip or a work trip. So expect more. Expect a mujahid to show up to kill you.” This article relates to chapter one, “While I was Sleeping,” because it shows effects of globalization 3.0. It shows globalization 3.0 by the world-wide use of computers and individual Internet access which allows for terrorist groups like ISIS to easily accomplish their goals. The video that was released exemplifies how “Globalization 3.0 is going to be more and more driven not only but individuals but also a much more diverse– non-Western, non-white – group of individuals” (Friedman 11).
Title: Where Wearable Technology Ends Up (Hint: Not Your Wrist)
ReplyDeleteLink: http://nyti.ms/1RAyTrT
Summary: This article discusses the advances in personal technology, specifically wearable technology. Wearable technology has been increasing in popularity drastically in the past years however it is still not in a place where it is a necessity for the majority of people like smartphones. Google Glass was expected to increase drastically however, it flopped and did not attract the amount of consumers that it was predicted to. Many other wearables are also not getting as many consumers to buy their product as the company may have expected. These failures have only helped companies plan for the future in the different products and design choices that they make. This article applies to Friedman’s point explanation of the advancements of technology through three time periods. In each of these time periods into globalization 1.0, globalization 2.0, and globalization 3.0. During 1492-1800, technology was very basic and only began to advance a small amount. During 1800-2000, technology was advanced drastically and had a large turning point. From 2001-current, technology has become a very important part of everyone’s lives. This article explains how wearable technology is only in the beginning stages of advancement and popularity but will become a much more popular product in the coming years. Similarly to the three globalization stages, wearable tech will grow and advance overtime.
Title: India Tells The U.S: Cut Back on Carbon Emission
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/12/08/458917881/india-to-u-s-cut-back-on-your-consumption
Summary: With the recent climate change talks in Paris, many Indian environmentalists are blaming the U.S as being the leader in carbon emissions. Moreover, the United States is taking a minuscule amount of action when it comes to the actual issue of climate change. One of these environmentalists - Sunita Narain, is constantly bringing up how India may technically be one of the leading polluters in recent years, yet the Indian people can't help it since their carbon footprint is just so small. These Indians are doing their best just to get by, and are looking for any method to do so. Furthermore, the Indian government has seen the colossal damages that emissions do have on the Earth, and especially their India. Studies from the Delhi based center of Science and the Environment concluded that one American consumes around 34 times more electricity than the average Indian. In addition, 90% of Americans are commuters while only around 10% of Indians can afford an automobile. Theses Indian environmentalists claim that the Americans that argue for climate change or, most of the time, 'sayers not doers'. In order for the CO2 emissions to be cut down drastically, the American government and people together must step in to lessen the use of natural resources while researching new, renewable energy sources. The Indian government is said to be trying their best to decrease emissions and are looking at new methods of renewable fuels.
Explanation: Friedman had stated that India will soon become a competitor to the United States. This article may not be a direct correlation to economics, nonetheless, you see a third world, developing country demanding the superpower of the United States to step up their game in the reduction of carbon emissions. This is huge, considering that India is extremely impoverished and has been historically known as a source of emissions. This may seem slightly hypocritical on the Indian side since, as I have mentioned before, India is a historically known polluter. However, the Indian government and its environmentalists have been trying their best to oversee new types of energy consumption - specifically ones that are renewable. Third world countries pushing first world countries to "step up their game" is a sign of a flattened world.
Chapter 1 Reflection
ReplyDeleteTitle: "Multi-Nationals Lead Indias IT Revolution"
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6288247.stm
Summary:
In the first chapter of "The World is Flat" Friedman discusses e-tutoring. He says that when people from the United States want help with their homework they are able to get it from people in India. In this article, it says that this service is sweeping the world of business, and helping to change the face of India. The Internet has changed the fact that people are now able to exchange services and not just goods. India has become the center of this because it has a highly intelligent workforce and many graduates each year. Multinationals, including those from the US, rush in for this opportunity and great advancement. More than 500 companies have IT operations in Bangalore alone. All in all, throughout recent technological advancements, more and more companies have relocated to India as they have seen the many benefits of doing so.
Title: "Tata Steel Job Cuts: No 'difference of opinion' with Unions
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-35358163
Summary: In chapter 1, Friedman addresses the issue of jobs being shipped overseas due to the cheap and intelligent labor, especially in the software engineering field. However, this article addresses the issue of job cuts in the steel industry to be shipped overseas. The union in this industry is outraged and is willing to fight for their jobs. Many of them think that the steel industry was going to boom in Wales, producing many jobs and greatly improving the economy. The up to date factories will now receive less usage and will simply try to keep their remaining jobs alive. This brings up the issue of "cheap Chinese imports" and the World Trade Organization. In The World is Flat, Friedman says that the Chinese industry learns the process and then creates new companies to compete, but with cheaper labor. This is applicable to the current issue concerning the steel industry in Wales considering that a plant may be opening up in China where labor is cheaper which would lead to cheaper products at the same quality level, thereby driving the Wales company out of business.
Title: Why Donald Trump is now targeting Apple and its ‘damn computers’
ReplyDeleteLink: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/01/19/why-donald-trump-is-now-targeting-apple-and-its-damn-computers/
Summary: This article talks about how Donald Trump targeted apple for them building their devices in China. While Apple does employ about 76,000 people in america, there is still a large percentage that work overseas, especially in China. The reason they do this is because labor is cheaper in China. While Apple benefits from this, America does not. The worry in the article is that America wants to be a leader in economies for years to come, but outsourcing is ruining that. This relates to The World is Flat, because Friedman talks about outsourcing and how it limits Americans in finding jobs.
Title: The Culture Shock of India's Call Centers
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganhartley/2012/12/16/the-culture-shock-of-indias-call-centers/#608bf5ae3540
Summary: India’s call centers are an interesting part of the country’s development. The article described how more and more Indian students are taking English classes in order to get the high paying jobs of India’s Bangalore tech center being a phone specialist. They undergo extensive rewiring to take on a more Western look, accent, and mentality, as if it is a part in a play. Call centers can be tough due to the hours, and mental aspect of assisting irate Westerners. “When they go in; when they come out—you can’t match the two people.” Is this the sacrifice of a more developed country? Friedman too, described the language classes and the intense preparation to become one of Western society. A flattened world brings what was once far away, close to you. Why is it that India is the one having to adapt? In the bigger scheme of things, does teaching Indians to become more Western a good thing? Friedman seems to think so, only a piece of the puzzle in making a flatter world. I am more hesitant to agree with him.
Title:Call centers: Returning to Mexico but sounding 'American'
ReplyDeleteLink:http://america.aljazeera.com/features/2014/3/mexico-s-call-centers.html
Summary:In the first chapter of the "World is Flat," Friedman mentions outsourcing, and call centers. This article states how Mexican call centers are recruiting English speakers. A place called TeleTech would hire people if they spoke English. The company used Mexico as a growth opportunity. Though it was in Mexico, it only worked with U.S corporations. The corporation in Mexico City employs two-thirds of people who used to live in America. TeleTech gave Mexicans who spoke English a chance to be able to work and make money. This call center gave a chance to anyone who could speak English no matter where they were from, which is why it supports the outsourcing mentioned in "The World is Flat."
Title: How Muslim Women are Challenging The Status Quo
ReplyDeleteLink: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/160131-islam-muslim-arab-women-ngbooktalk/
Summary: This article, written by Karherine Zoepf, talks about the standards for Saudi Arabian women and how they feel obligated to follow them, and it restricted them from doing what they aspire to accomplish. Katherine starts off by explaining that her classmate died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, so she felt compelled to go to the middle east and find out the cause of the Arabian men causing callateral damage to the states. While in the middle east, she decided to write a book about muslim women. She explains how they so often follow the standards, and how other women would physically fight with another if they wanted to do something "a little daring". Women in Saudi Arabia had rules to follow, and those expectations absolutely had to be met. This relates to Friedman's discussion about "the rule of the market economy". In chapter 1 of TWIF, he explains, "if somewhere has the richest human resources and the cheapest labor, of course the enterprises and the businesses will naturally go there". This leads to his discussion on China and how their advanced engineers take on all the programs because they learned more at the IT schools. The article and the book relate to one another because they each describe standards that must be followed. Muslim women must always be polite and quiet, never interfearing with situations, just as Americans musf take the backseat to China because they have more resources. However, if two groups were able to work together, a potential greater product could result. If men and women of other ethnicities were not to have prejudice towards the women of Saudi Arabia, maybe they would feel more comfortable living a life that they want. If China and America worked together more, combining the most intelligent malea and females from both places, they would both gain resources and opportunities.
Great article! We'll be reading this article in Sociology when we consider gender.
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