Monica Butler Maquilapolis

Monica Butler - Film Reaction 

The film Maquilapolis was a film that took the viewers behind the scenes of the factory industry in Mexico and told the stories of the factory workers. The most lesson most relevant to the course is how globalization can affect other countries in a very negative way. On the surface, it would seem that globalization was benefiting Mexico. Jobs were scarce across the country and the factories brought jobs to Tijuana. People began migrating to Tijuana for paying positions and security. The factories, which were mostly made up of women, gave single mothers a chance to provide for their families better. One could argue that, in the 1960s when the US and Mexico formed a treaty to allow the American companies to build factories in Mexico, the American companies benefited from cheap labor and tax breaks but the Mexican people also benefitted from a boost in their economy and their employment opportunities. However, the documentary challenges the viewer to ask if the ways this globalization affects the environment of Mexico and the health of the people surrounding Tijuana outweighs the economic aide? 

The women make, on average, $68 per week. They have to work 2 hours to afford milk ad 1 hour to afford water. When we look at Tijuana on a map its astonishing to see it is no more than 30 minutes from one of the wealthiest and established areas in the US, San Diego. It is shocking that this is going on so close to home, but also that the US government does not fear the effects of the factories as well. Some of the things discussed in the film included the health hazards of the factories, nose bleeds, no bathroom breaks, kidney problems, spots, sores, and lead contamination. In combination, there has been a rise in birth defects and underdeveloped babies. It is important to think about how these environmental problems could impact the US as well. The water in Tijuana is contaminated and the air is being polluted from old factories being left behind. This must have some effect on those directly across the border from Mexico. The women of the factories worked with the US activists to clean up the site Mataelos y Devirdados (?). Whether or not the US people care about what is going on across the borders, it is important to understand how our globalization is not only affecting the Mexicans negatively. By taking these short cuts for tax breaks and cheap labor are we just hurting ourselves as much?

What I was most surprised by in this film was the activism the women of these factories were participating in. When I think about these types of factories across lesser-developed nations, I never associate the workers with having strong voices. I mostly imagine that these workers have no other options so they accept the conditions that come with the jobs. However, it is not the case in Tijuana. The work of the Promotoras is inspired. These women “promote the law” and “defend violated rights.” These women have no job security, rights, or pleasant working environments. The companies don’t warn the workers of the health risks, and there is no real unions within the work force. One woman noted, in Globalization the woman worker is a commodity, if she starts to defend her rights they look for the commodity else where. To these factories these women are just objects that can be replaced. When the women begin to fight for their rights they may go to another country like Sanyo and Indonesia. However, these women know its more important to fight for their rights than to work idly in the factories. 

If we are going to use globalization to take advantage of these under-developed nations economically, it is important for us as citizens to help those across the border fight for their rights. As Americans, we are privileged with workers rights, shouldn’t globalization be about spreading the positive parts of American life too? I think it was impressive that American environmental activists went to Mexico to help the woman clean up the old factory site. However, that is just a small step. And as mentioned before, it is also important to protect those Americans on our borders from the negative impacts these factories are causing. They need to be upheld to the same environmental laws as American factories are in order to ensure the safety of all the people across the world.