How Sweatshops Effect Cambodia

The article Where Sweatshops are a Dream discusses the effect of sweatshops in Cambodia. Another topic that is discussed is the fact that sweatshops don't exploit enough people for the amount of poor and homeless. The author, who lived in East Asia for multiple years along with his wife who is from China, has a gained a large understanding of sweatshop jobs. Kristof assumes his readers have some knowledge about the ongoing poverty in Cambodia.

The purpose of this article is to make people in well-developed countries understand that although sweatshops are thought to be miserable and unsanitary, people in less-developed countries, such as Cambodia, would much rather work there than not have a job at all. The author, Nicholas D. Kristof, states his purpose directly which makes it easy for the audience to identify his opinion on sweatshops. In order to accomplish this purpose, he has a neutral appeal to Barack Obama, Democrats who favor labor standards in trade agreements, and people who live in developed countries. In this article, the author advocates for safer and more sanitary working conditions in the sweatshops, showing he doesn't want the removal of sweatshops, just improvement in quality. You would think that even poor would hate being in such terrible conditions with very low pay, but to them, sweatshops are a way to get out of the sun and at least make some money to survive.

                                                   

Cambodian garment sweatshops

The author uses logos, ethos, and pathos throughout his argument in order to appeal to the audience. Logos is used when Kristof mentions Obama and the Democratic attempts to create labor standards in trade agreements. He also says that Cambodia is trying to create wage minimums and better working conditions for factory workers. The author proves his credibility through the use of ethos by using quotes from people who work in dumps. He creates emotional appeal by stating the quotes from a mother who has not been able to bathe her child since he was two. 

The author's thesis is that sweatshops are beneficial for the poor and should have improved working conditions and increased wages. Kristof organizes is article by providing evidence in the form of facts and quotes, then gives his refutation of his argument, and lastly provides his own opinions on sweatshops based off of the multiple years he lived in Cambodia. He has an informal approach throughout his explanation of his topic. 

                                         

Nicholas Kristof made a very persuasive and clear argument. However, it would be even more persuasive if he had added statistics and charts to prove his point. Overall, he refuted his argument and supported his claims effectively in order to persuade the audience. 

http://america.aljazeera.com/content/ajam/articles/2015/3/11/cambodian-garment-workers-rise-up-and-face-a-crackdown/jcr:content/headlineImage.adapt.1460.high.Cambodia_garmentworker2_031115.1426333086294.jpg

http://d279m997dpfwgl.cloudfront.net/wp/2015/04/0410_sweatshop.jpg

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/opinion/15kristof.html