Gifford to react. It was a very highly publicized case, and in a journal article appearing in a 1998 edition of Afterimage, journalist Rebecca Schreiber commented this way:
Every so often, an event like the Kathy Lee Gifford scandal uncovers the whole line of production, bringing down public scrutiny on each of the links in the chain."(23) the tactical struggle waged through publicity and public relations is a significant site of image politics in the clothing industry, which is fundamentally driven by the production of images, the social value of style and signifying practices of fashion. Visibility is a form of publicity, the precondition to generating political identification, garnering attention and directing public discourse. Such image-based strategies, always partial and supplementary, are continually negotiated and contingent and remain a vital course of intervention in the sphere of geopolitics (p. 13)."
Right now, in our emerging world community, it is time to begin implementing the rules and standards by which members of the community expect corporations to conduct themselves. Exploiting child labor is not an acceptable practice, but in third world countries where there exists minimal or no opportunity for education child labor is not going to disappear soon. Therefore, it must be approached realistically, weighing the safety and well being of the child vs. The labor (Basu, Kaushik, 1999, p. 80).
Consumers have proven the weight of their public opinion, and will hopefully continue to send manufacturers the message loud and clear that children must be protected, not exploited to risk as third world laborers. Most Americans remember either growing up, and having to work long and hard to achieve a good life; or that their parents did, and perhaps sacrificed much more than any young man or woman should have to. Americans are, for the most part, aware that emerging third world countries will have to work hard, but most Americans draw the line at exploiting children.
Today, child labor is being exploited in third world countries by manufacturers of sports products, clothing, home furnishings and other industries as well, including agriculture (Taylor, Ronald B., 1973). Legal...
80). With persistent and diligent oversight, bringing about an end to the exploitation of child labor will only serve to improve the relationship between America and other countries, and will provide the basis for a brighter future for children today, in tomorrow's world.
References
http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001312026
Basu, K. (1999). International Labor Standards and Child Labor. Challenge, 42(5), 80. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001312026
http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001326312
Goldstein, a., & Schreiber, R. (1998). Migrating Capital and the Optics of Place: Globalization and Representation. Afterimage, 25(4), 13+. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001326312 http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000518148
The Realities of Child Labor in the Developing World. (1996, June 23). The Washington Times, p. 2. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000518148 http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002279218
Silvers, J. (1996, February). Child Labor in Pakistan: Pakistan Has Recently Passed Laws Greatly Limiting Child Labor and Indentured Servitude -- but Those Laws Are Universally Ignored. The Atlantic Monthly, 277, 79-8890-2. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002279218 http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=96273903
Taylor, R.B. (1973). Sweatshops in the Sun: Child Labor on the Farm. Boston: Beacon Press. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=96273907 http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002356582
Tierney, J.J. (2000, August). The World of Child Labor - America's Checkered Past. World and I, 15, 54. Retrieved February 12, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002356582
