| Revision as of 17:44, 10 May 2004 editLeonard G. (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers26,490 edits Expanded on pay, hours, and conditions in sweatshops← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:41, 9 June 2004 edit undo157.242.206.50 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| b. To make use of in an unjust, cruel or selfish manner for one's own advantage. | b. To make use of in an unjust, cruel or selfish manner for one's own advantage. | ||
| In ], '''exploitation''' refers to the use of people as a ], with little or no consideration of their well |
In ], '''exploitation''' refers to the use of people as a ], with little or no consideration of their well-being. | ||
| It is seen often as a ] phenomenon, where poor people are exploited for their labors in service of a powerful entity, like a ] or a ]. | It is seen often as a ] phenomenon, where poor people are exploited for their labors in service of a powerful entity, like a ] or a ]. | ||
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| The employee point of view can also be imbalanced by its perception, we can see this example in ] issues, where some might levee their political power for self-serving reasons such as undue perks or excess pay raises. | The employee point of view can also be imbalanced by its perception, we can see this example in ] issues, where some might levee their political power for self-serving reasons such as undue perks or excess pay raises. | ||
| To many conservative observers, these kinds of labor abuses occur rarely and only in first-world economies, after existing imbalances in the employer's favor are countered, and then the ] becomes a tool of selfish abuse. | |||
| A common example of ] clothing corporations such as ], and ], in using ] (]s) in extremely poor nations to manufacture their products for little relative pay. This pay is often insufficient for the local cost of living if ony normal working hours are observed, and frequently long working hours are forced under unsafe conditions. | A common example of ] clothing corporations such as ], and ], in using ] (]s) in extremely poor nations to manufacture their products for little relative pay. This pay is often insufficient for the local cost of living if ony normal working hours are observed, and frequently long working hours are forced under unsafe conditions. | ||
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| Thus the case is often made that a corporate entity shares complicity in human rights abuses, when it enters into a working partnership with a tyrannical and abusive political governments, to exploit the people for their labor. | Thus the case is often made that a corporate entity shares complicity in human rights abuses, when it enters into a working partnership with a tyrannical and abusive political governments, to exploit the people for their labor. | ||
| In ] theory, the "exploitation" described above is usually called "'''super'''exploitation," exploitation that goes beyond the normal standards of exploitation prevalent in ] society. In the Marxian view, "normal" exploitation is based in three structural characteristics of that kind of society: (1) the monopoly of the ownership of the ] by a small minority in society, the capitalists; (2) the inability of non-property-owners (the workers, proletarians) to survive without selling their labor-time to the capitalists; and (3) the ], which uses its violence to protect the unequal distribution of power and property in society. Because of these institutions, workers have little or no choice but to pay the capitalists ] (profits, interest, and rent) in exchange for their survival. They are always threatened by the "reserve army of the ]." | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 21:41, 9 June 2004
From exploit; the act of exploiting. a. To make use of or productively utilize. b. To make use of in an unjust, cruel or selfish manner for one's own advantage.
In sociology, exploitation refers to the use of people as a resource, with little or no consideration of their well-being.
It is seen often as a socio-economic phenomenon, where poor people are exploited for their labors in service of a powerful entity, like a state or a corporation.
The use of the word 'exploitation' is a common, humanist characterisation of the work for pay system, when it is applied with cruelty, or with compulsion, or on terms that are disagreeable to the employee.
These differences are largely in perception, though its not to say they are not genuine.
The elitist point of view of the employer is likely to see even an extremely imbalanced exchanged as fair, by virtue of the limited options of the servant.
The employee point of view can also be imbalanced by its perception, we can see this example in labor union issues, where some might levee their political power for self-serving reasons such as undue perks or excess pay raises.
To many conservative observers, these kinds of labor abuses occur rarely and only in first-world economies, after existing imbalances in the employer's favor are countered, and then the union becomes a tool of selfish abuse.
A common example of corporate exploitation clothing corporations such as Nike, and The Gap, in using child labor (sweatshops) in extremely poor nations to manufacture their products for little relative pay. This pay is often insufficient for the local cost of living if ony normal working hours are observed, and frequently long working hours are forced under unsafe conditions.
These companies often argue that even such low wages are living wages for that location. This is seen by some as disingenuous, as they are in fact exploiting people by the terms of unequal human standards. Corporate wealth is a strong incentive in governments with weak human standards, and rampant corruption.
Thus the case is often made that a corporate entity shares complicity in human rights abuses, when it enters into a working partnership with a tyrannical and abusive political governments, to exploit the people for their labor.
In Marxian theory, the "exploitation" described above is usually called "superexploitation," exploitation that goes beyond the normal standards of exploitation prevalent in capitalist society. In the Marxian view, "normal" exploitation is based in three structural characteristics of that kind of society: (1) the monopoly of the ownership of the means of production by a small minority in society, the capitalists; (2) the inability of non-property-owners (the workers, proletarians) to survive without selling their labor-time to the capitalists; and (3) the state, which uses its violence to protect the unequal distribution of power and property in society. Because of these institutions, workers have little or no choice but to pay the capitalists surplus-value (profits, interest, and rent) in exchange for their survival. They are always threatened by the "reserve army of the unemployed."
See also
corporate abuse, slavery, child labor, child sexual exploitation, human exploitation, animal abuse, Class warfare, exploitation of natural resources, exploitation film