Anthropology: An Analysis of Two Articles the Term Paper

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Anthropology: An Analysis of Two Articles

The Gender and Labor Politics of Postmodernity" by Aihwa Ong and "Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Community" by Arjun Appadurai both offer perspectives on the impact of the changing global economy. These two articles will now be analysed in turn. This involves describing the main argument of each article, considering how each article is persuasive, considering how each article is confusing, and finally, considering how each author either agrees or disagrees with the ideas of other scholars.

In "The Gender and Labor Politics of Postmodernity" Aihwa Ong discusses the situation in the modern industrial work environment, also focusing on the role of women in this environment. Ong argues that there is a gap between what the literature says is happening and what the real experiences of workers are. In the essay, Ong attempts to show what the real situation is by looking at the labor worlds of Asia and Mexico. Ong then argues two main points. Firstly, that "industrial modes of domination go beyond production relations strictly construed" (Ong 62). Secondly, Ong argues that worker's struggles against control are based on what Ong calls "cultural struggle" rather than class struggle.

Ong is especially persuasive in arguing that the struggle of individuals is not about a class struggle, but a cultural struggle. As Ong (86) says, "I propose that we conceive of workers' experiences as cultural struggles - that is, workers struggle against new and varied forms of domination, and seek new ways of grappling with social realities." This is a well reasoned and a logical argument.

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Ong compares this approach with the common class approach taken and in doing this, shows that the class approach does not adequately explain the situation.

The confusing part of the article is the link between labor politics and gender politics. Ong argues about labor politics and the work situation in general, but uses the main example of women in work situations. This appears to be two arguments combined into one. Labor politics is one issue and gender politics is another. The author does not effectively separate these arguments, making the argument difficult to follow at times. A separate focus that divides these two issues into two separate topics would be more effective.

The article agrees with the points made by Sahlins in "Cosmologies of Capitalism." This argument by Sahlins was based on recognizing that other cultures cannot be understood by simply applying Western values to them, instead they have to be looked at from the point-of-view of that culture. Ong takes this same approach, rejecting the common views that anthropologists have placed on these Mexican and Asian cultures and instead showing the changes from the viewpoint of these cultures.

The article disagrees with common views held that class consciousness is the source of struggle. The author rejects the approaches taken by scholars including Mintz, Nash and Vincent and also rejects the Marxist view (Ong 77).

In "Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Community" Arjun Appadurai discusses the impact of technology on communication and transportation and how this impacts on what is referred to as the "global….....

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