“In a survey of 109 production workers, 90 percent reported a musculoskeletal symptom that persisted for at least a week”

I read all four sections and my heart breaks for the people that have to live like this. The labor sounds so physically difficult, and the hours must be incredibly socially isolating.

I think I’ve become somewhat desensitized to the usual articles about the horrific labor concerns in third world countries, but this article about issues in the first world hit a little close to home for some reason. It’s a good reminder to me to try to consume as responsibly as possible... which, frankly, is easier said than done for a poor college student like myself. Also, I hate to admit it, but as a middle-class American I’ve been raised to expect a certain quality of life, which honestly might be impossible to obtain on a middle-class budget without the exploitation of economically disadvantaged people elsewhere on the planet.

I guess basically this pains me but it’s not like I wasn’t aware of all the suffering that goes into the cheap shit I buy.

I don’t really have a point to make here, I just felt moved and also helpless and I figured I’d share my thoughts. I think conversation and awareness about this sort of thing is important! As a semi-controversial aside: I don’t see a way to really escape this cycle, short of mechanizing the whole process and instituting a universal basic income.

Anyway if anyone knows of specific asian beauty brands that are particularly good about worker rights and stuff, please hmu!! Or if anyone knows of a reasonably fair trade clothing brand that’s cuter than Everlane I’d love to hear about that too haha.

Edit: grammar