The Capitalist Mode of Production - Essay Example

Question 2 Introduction The adoption of the capitalist mode of production changed the manner in which labor and labor relations were viewed and organized in the past. The capitalist mode of production meant that the owners of the means of production had to use all means possible to ensure that they maximize their profits and to keep the laborers on their lowest ranks as possible so that they could continue working for them at the meager salaries. This mode of production also introduced stratification in the work and labor relationship. This paper, therefore, shall analyze the ways that gender, sexuality, and race structure the capitalist mode of production in certain bodies and bodily capacities in the labor market. Discussion Chandra criticizes the feminist perspectives as held by some western feminists, who view women in the third world countries as ghetto and undeserving of the appropriate treatment as that accorded to the women in the western countries. This perspective classifies women in the third world countries as largely uneducated, undignified, and as intellectually lazy and unable to perform the functions that western women are able to. According to Chandra, these women are fall under the capitalist structure that commodifies particular bodies and or bodily capacities, thus making these women as commodities that can be sold and or bought for the gratification of those that are perceived to be civilized. The feminist view as held by these biased western feminists, therefore, creates a binary manner of perception for the women, so that there are only the western civilized women and the third world primitive women, without bearing in mind that many of the women in the third world countries are now educated and civilized as their western counterparts (Mohanty, 2003: 210). Kempadoo (2004: 12), in his book on trading sex across the borders, looks at the manner that the capitalist structure has led to increased trade in sex and sexual activities in many countries and between countries. He focuses on the activities in Southeast Asia, which has become famous for its illegal trade activities. Prostitutes are traded across the border to neighboring states and even abroad so that they can sell their services for money. this, according to Kempadoo, is a as result of the capitalist structure and model of trade, which places too much emphasis on the profit aspect of business, and that legitimizes any form of business as long as it earns the dealer returns and profits for the one in control. It is this urge and need for profits that has led to the creation of recruitment agencies that take advantage of un-sensing girls to recruit them into the agencies, only to be sold to prostitution. The capitalist mode of the economy makes the economy highly stratified and breaking through for one would be quite a challenging task. This makes it attractive and easy for persons to seek alternative means through which they can break into the economy to make it big. Wealthy owners of the means of production are tough on their choices and activities that seek to bar the lowly from achieving these means through poor pay and other forms of restrictions, all of which are acceptable in this mode of production. Lowe, in his article on globalization shares the same view as the other scholars above, who believe that the structure of capitalism is responsible for the skewed relations of labor that are witnessed in the globe today (Lowe, 2007: 131). According to Lowe, globalization, while a most desirable and fruitful event that has led to immense opportunities in the world today, has also been the source of many evils being witnessed in the global economy. Globalization has opened up borders and territorial boundaries, made non-sense of national laws and guidelines for various economic activities, and led to increased rates of interactions for people around the world. While some of these relationships are healthy, some of them are malicious and have been taken advantage of to advance the selfish goals of others. Activities such as trafficking and smuggling are largely as a result of globalization, as contact between and among people have been made much easier today than ever before. People are also able to share information on a global scale and coordinate their illegal activities much easily. Besides human trafficking, globalization has increased the rate at which countries are able to acquire arms and other peace threatening tools and facilities, leading to increased deterioration of peace and stability across the globe. All of these functions are well tolerated and accepted within the confines of capitalism, which is a mode of production that seeks to commodify every activity and even body and bodily capacities. Rhacel,in his book on ‘Migrant Filipina Domestic Workers and the International Division of Reproductive’ highlights the plight of migrant Filipino domestic workers in the light of the international division of labor. According to Rhacel, Filipino migrant women are employed as domestic workers in more than 130 countries around the world. The capitalist mode and structure of production led to the effects of globalization, which led to the internationalization of labor, thus opening up global markets. While this is a good thing for the growth and development of the economies around the world, there have been reports of incidents where these migrant domestic workers have been subjected to various forms of improper treatment by their employers. Cases of sexual assault are common among these groups of workers, and in some cases, they have been subjected to inhuman treatment, with some going without food for days. These treatments are extended to these works partly because of their race and partly because of the fact that most of them are women, hence bringing in the issue of gender relations and imbalance (Parrenas, 2000: 574). Conclusion A critical review of the manner in which labor relations are arranged and organized today reveals a great deal of imbalance based on gender, sexuality, and race. These factors are well tolerated and largely cultivated by the capitalist structure, which seeks to commodify labor and anything that can be viewed as an aspect and factor of labor. The capitalist structure indirectly allows and encourages such forms of commodification, encouraging people to engage in activities that will enable them earn a profit, even when these activities fall below the conventional moral standards. The scramble for profits and to own the means of production by people has fueled such unethical practices as witnessed across the globe today. Globalization is one of the direct results of capitalism, which has led to increased interaction and exchange of ideas and business activities among nations and between people across the globe, leading to the proliferation of racialized and feminized relations of labor in the global market. Works Cited Kempadoo, Kamala. Trading Sex Across Borders: Interregional and International Migration. Routledge.2004. Lowe, Lisa. Globalization. NY: Ney York University Press. 2007. Mohanty, Chandra Talpade.“Under Western eyes” in Feminism Without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity. Durham: Duke University Press, 2003. Parrenas, Rhacel. 7. Migrant Filipina Domestic Workers and the International Division of Reproductive Labor. Gender & Society, 14(4): 2000, 560-581. Read More