Electronic Sweatshop By Barbara Garson Essay Research

Electronic Sweatshop By Barbara Garson Essay, Research Paper

Journal #1

The Electronic Sweatshop by Barbara Garson

Introduction & Chapters 1 to 2

Summary

In her introduction, Barbara Garson gives the reader an idea of her personal work experience as a clerk with automation. One can see that Garson is a strong critique of automation. In order to convey how automation is affecting our society the author begins by analyzing and studying various jobs from the bottom on up (i.e. starting with the most unskilled labor).

Chapter one examines the various occupations at McDonalds’s. Barbara Garson finds that most workers here tend to dislike their jobs. Due to the tremendous amount of stress created by automated systems such as timers and computer generated productivity statistics McDonald’s has a high turn over rate in employment.

The second chapter of the book deals with reservation agents employed at airlines. Barbara Garson explains how this profession has also undergone automation. By interviewing individuals at American Airlines and Air Canada she finds that conversations with customers are no longer controlled by the reservation agent, but by a set of scripts or even a supervisor secretively listening in on the conversation.

Critical Analysis

Both of these two chapters analyze the effects of automation on two different types of professions. I found it interesting that individuals working as reservation agents find it easier to cope with automation than McDonald’s employees. I guess this is due to the fact that reservation agents are allowed to practice a little more individual thinking than someone waiting for a buzzer telling him or her when to flip a meat patty.

However, I have worked as a tele-marketer here at the university soliciting funds from alumni and previous students. What attracted me to the job was the relatively high pay (plus commission). Yet, on my first couple days at the job I already was bombarded with several scripts and rules I needed to follow. At first I tried to use my own conversational skills when dealing with customers, but it did not take long until my supervisors started to discipline me about how important it supposedly is to follow the given scripts. Hence, I used these scripts and my 5 hour work day seemed like an eternity. I felt like a wind-up doll and eventually quit the job although I was desperately in need of money.

The reason I am mentioning this is because I believe that in reality there is no difference between the fast food employee and the reservation agent in terms of individuality. Through automation, both professions have lost their personal touch to the public. In my case I tried to solicit funds from individuals using my own ideas and creativity, yet was not allowed to do so. Hence, my job became monotonous.

Quite honestly I do not believe “Kenny” when he states that he likes his work. He argues that he gets to deal with the public. But in order to do so he follows an unoriginal set of scripts and phrases. Thus, does he really get to talk to the public or is he merely a machine or parrot triggered by certain key words such as Yes, No, or Maybe. Furthermore, Kenny was an actor. This profession also requires one to follow scripts, yet what sets one actor apart from another is their individuality. When Kenny plays a role where he has to portray certain emotions he does not follow a given set of rules but his own intuition as an experienced actor.

I find it sad that certain professions have become so monotonous. Through my previous jobs I have realized however that it takes a great deal of job-hopping in order to find the ideal job. An ideal job for me is challenging and requires the use of one’s own individual creativity and thought. I now work for a local graphic design business and enjoy my work environment. My only requirements are that I show up on time and that my final work looks good and does not give the business a bad image.

I hope I am not in the minority believing that individuality and creativity are human skills that should never be overshadowed by large companies that only want to make a profit. Furthermore, what will this society come to if every one acts and thinks like machines. What would happen to free will or even democracy. The word ‘demos’ means people and ‘cracy’ means rule. Hence, will we have a future political system called “autocracy”, where we will be ruled by automated systems designed to anticipate our political and social needs.

Today we still have a chance to be creative individuals if we oppose professions that take these privileges away from us, but will we have that chance 50 years from now or will automation be so integrated in our society that it is too late. I hope not, because if this were to happen I would have wasted a lot of tuition money.

Journal #2

The Electronic Sweatshop by Barbara Garson

Chapters 3 to 8

Summary

Chapters three through six mainly portray how professions have become increasingly automated and jobs such as social workers, stockbrokers, and possibly even therapists and psychologists are denounced to clerk positions. Garson explains how computer or file monitoring systems and expert programs are turning white-collar positions into entry-level jobs. Social workers for instance spend less time at

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