Rosemarie Dominguez
Soc 385
Marx Blog 2
Karl Marx’s methodology is that as individuals we would stop alienating ourselves if we lived in a communist society: a society that would create a moneyless, social structure and neutralized capital. However, concepts of alienation and exploitation are still relevant in today’s society. Marx believes that the capitalist power comes down to control of labor power. Class is not about income, occupation or status, but class is about ownership. The working class (proletariats) are the ones who are being controlled by the wealthy people (bourgeoisie), who controls production of goods produced by the labor workers. By producing a use-value out of the proletarians the bourgeoisie develop a capitalist control.
We as individuals are exploited because I feel we choose to be exploited and have no other choice. The amount of labor that we give is provided by a wage. The time we spent making a product will be rewarded with money, thus living in an exploited relationship. Making goods is not as easy as it seems. It takes a lot of time, products and materials to generate commodities, and majority of the time consumers do not stop and think about what it took, how long it took, or where it came from. We as consumers are only concerned if the price is reasonable and if it satisfies our wants/needs.
Shoe Company, Nike is perfect example of manufacturing commodities and exploiting children. Nike has been accused of underpaying its overseas workers and take advantage of its employees, mostly under the age of 18. As far as working conditions, they are working in sweatshops and making probably less than ten dollars a day. These workers alienate themselves because they have to work in order to provide some money to maintain a stable living. Not only do they distance themselves, but from others as well. There is no nine to five hour shifts, they often work 12 to 14 long hours, which does not let them to connect with families. Nike website article quotes, “Consumers must hold manufacturers and retailers responsible for the conditions under which products--and profits--are made.” We should be responsible because we are no different form the bourgeoisie. Part of the reason why we consume is to state our social and economic wealth. By flaunting name brand clothes, shoes, the latest technology we promote a sense of wealth. Individuals will continue to buy shoes, and those workers will continue to make less than what the minimum wage is, in a day.
If Marx was alive he would probably continue to pursue the dream of a communist society and persuade everyone to accept the sociological imagination, because by accepting the sociological imagination, we will no longer keep ourselves isolated from one another, but provide us with the appreciation of the values we have. “Neither are we concerned to know how the object satisfies these wants, whether directly as means of subsistence, or indirectly as means of production” (Marx). Due to major companies such as Nike providing us with commodities, we as consumers alienate ourselves from the social interactions because we are satisfied and we are selfish. As a society we are told to consume and consume and to continue to buy. Even though we recognized these issues, we choose not to do anything about it because we are selfish and are only concern about our needs and wants.
References:
http://spot.colorado.edu/~shortk/nike.html
Soc 385
Marx Blog 2
Karl Marx’s methodology is that as individuals we would stop alienating ourselves if we lived in a communist society: a society that would create a moneyless, social structure and neutralized capital. However, concepts of alienation and exploitation are still relevant in today’s society. Marx believes that the capitalist power comes down to control of labor power. Class is not about income, occupation or status, but class is about ownership. The working class (proletariats) are the ones who are being controlled by the wealthy people (bourgeoisie), who controls production of goods produced by the labor workers. By producing a use-value out of the proletarians the bourgeoisie develop a capitalist control.
We as individuals are exploited because I feel we choose to be exploited and have no other choice. The amount of labor that we give is provided by a wage. The time we spent making a product will be rewarded with money, thus living in an exploited relationship. Making goods is not as easy as it seems. It takes a lot of time, products and materials to generate commodities, and majority of the time consumers do not stop and think about what it took, how long it took, or where it came from. We as consumers are only concerned if the price is reasonable and if it satisfies our wants/needs.
Shoe Company, Nike is perfect example of manufacturing commodities and exploiting children. Nike has been accused of underpaying its overseas workers and take advantage of its employees, mostly under the age of 18. As far as working conditions, they are working in sweatshops and making probably less than ten dollars a day. These workers alienate themselves because they have to work in order to provide some money to maintain a stable living. Not only do they distance themselves, but from others as well. There is no nine to five hour shifts, they often work 12 to 14 long hours, which does not let them to connect with families. Nike website article quotes, “Consumers must hold manufacturers and retailers responsible for the conditions under which products--and profits--are made.” We should be responsible because we are no different form the bourgeoisie. Part of the reason why we consume is to state our social and economic wealth. By flaunting name brand clothes, shoes, the latest technology we promote a sense of wealth. Individuals will continue to buy shoes, and those workers will continue to make less than what the minimum wage is, in a day.
If Marx was alive he would probably continue to pursue the dream of a communist society and persuade everyone to accept the sociological imagination, because by accepting the sociological imagination, we will no longer keep ourselves isolated from one another, but provide us with the appreciation of the values we have. “Neither are we concerned to know how the object satisfies these wants, whether directly as means of subsistence, or indirectly as means of production” (Marx). Due to major companies such as Nike providing us with commodities, we as consumers alienate ourselves from the social interactions because we are satisfied and we are selfish. As a society we are told to consume and consume and to continue to buy. Even though we recognized these issues, we choose not to do anything about it because we are selfish and are only concern about our needs and wants.
References:
http://spot.colorado.edu/~shortk/nike.html