Course Description

Everyone comment on this post for next year's course description!

Week 15! Woo!

Hi peoples! Here are the questions for the week 15 readings. I hope everyone's having a good weekend.

1. Discuss some of the incentives that lead employers to misclassify employees as independent contractors.
2. Compare and contrast the situations between FedEx drivers and sweatshop workers in terms of work conditions, salary, unionizing, etc. Why is it so difficult for FedEx employees to form unions?
3. What are some of the common elements between the different labor struggles and the actions workers have taken to resist?
4. To what extent would a transnational labor movement benefit or hinder movements in specific places.
   

Week 14 Readings

Hello guys! Hope you're enjoying this weather!! ^_^

1. Narayan's article discusses the factors contributing to the increased likelihood of domestic abuse/violence towards women whose immigration status is dependent on their marriage than women who are already citizens. Discuss these factors.

2. How do the cultures these women come from influence their ability to cope with domestic abuse/violence?

3. What are some of the recommendations for change that the "Sex Trafficking of Women in the United States" article makes?

4. What factors promote sex trafficking in the US? What can we do to prevent it?

homework!!!

For next week...

- write up brief course description
- bring ideas to field trip next week for discussion!

- contact speakers for last week of class --> PWC

Week 13 Readings

1. In the article, Koreatown on the Edge, Koreatown is seen by many as a place with 'exotic foods, run-down apartment buildings, trendy nightclubs, bustling Korean businesses,' but few realize that it is actually a place of 'low-paying jobs, long work hours, high rents, and limited social services.' What do you think makes up for such contrasting images, and do you think it is a motive to provide this type of 'false' image?

2. What do you think contributed to the deterioration of Koreatown between 1990-2000? Do you think the poverty crisis in Koreatown has improved between 2000-2010?

3. According to the two articles on immigrant deportation, the government program in charge of the matter gradually 'shifted to picking up "the easiest targets, not the most dangerous fugitives" ' as the years went on. Soon they were violating privacy and warrant laws in order to arrest immigrants. While this is indeed a problem, what about the laws themselves? In what way(s) could they be changed or fixed for the better? Also, while it's important to protect human rights, it's also important to take care of the country as a whole. Where do you think we should draw the line between compassion for immigrants and practical concerns about the US as a nation?

Embodying Asian/American Sexualities on google

http://books.google.com/books?id=NlG1XbiqaQMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=embodying+asian/american+sexualities&source=bl&ots=5J97bBKqUy&sig=3LLeFzAETrzCFTXbolFirFTSfN4&hl=en&ei=fwi8S_T9LYG6tQObz_yEDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Week 12

Hey Everyone! Here are some preliminary discussion questions to think about. I couldn't get a hold of Rebecca, but I'm sure she'll respond to my email and add another question or two later tonight :) But just to get you guys started...here are some things to BLOG about:

1. How does the idea of "transnationalism" play into the idea of the overseas Filipina caretaker? Feel free to discuss this from either a cultural perspective or a political perspective.

2. Chang's article, The Global Trade in Filipina Workers, talks about how women in third world nations are often the ones that sacrifice the most for the family. If economic times are rough, they often take the first hit. First, describe using several arguments given by Chang, why this is true. Second, do you believe that this is true of all third world countries? Does the idea of self sacrifice apply more to Asian countries specifically, or do you believe that it is more frequently seen in Asian culture?

3. What is the greatest challenge of organizing caretakers compared to organizing workers in other industries?


Some questions to just THINK about before and after we watch the film Chain of Love:
1. What do you think the phrase "Chain of Love" refers to?

2. Is there such thing as a fourth world nation?

3. Should the Filipina women working abroad be proud of what they do? Are they proud? Do they regret doing the type of work they do?

4. Chang talks about how Filipinos who were doctors and lawyers, who held educated white collar jobs, must go overseas and accept lower positions in order to earn enough money to support their families. Is this evident in the film? What can be done to stop this "declassification" from happening?

Instructor/Facilitator Requirements

Instructor Requirements
Willingness to act as facilitator and not as an active professor/instructor is a must
Knowledge of Asian American history
Knowledge of Gender Studies/Sexuality in the context of Asian Americans
Open to students' creative interpretation of the class
Experience in teaching seminar style courses

Instructor description
Hired professor/instructor will act as facilitator to the students and to the pre-arranged student constructed syllabus. Because students are in charge of their own facilitations and run class discussions about the readings, there will be almost no lecturing by the instructor. The professor/instructor will guide and collaborate with students. The instructor will additionally be responsible for events and activities that may be outside of the scheduled class time. The professor/instructor should also come to the course weekly, prepared to answer questions and give additional background information regarding the weekly topics and related readings. The professor/instructor should finally be able to cater to the diversity of the student body of the Claremont Colleges.

Week 11

1) What are some of the differences between the Asian American's and Latino's experiences as immigrant labourers in the United States?

2) Pam Tau Lee discussses some of the negative aspects in unions - expand a little on this.

3) Lee says "We need education that can help empower immigrant workers, and at the same time sensitize the general public to the problems of the immigrant worker,..." - think of solutions of how we can do this. How do we educate them exactly?

4) Saito says "Our skin is brown too, our battle is the same", is it beneficial or detrimental to the immigrants' cause to only base their coalition on race?

Listen when you have 30 minutes to spare

http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/pc/pc100309labors_love_-_lost

Even if it is just in the background. I think it is pretty interesting!

WEEK NINE/TEN READINGS

Hi all,

So there appears to be some confusion on what week we're supposed to be doing. I think it should be week 10, but knowing me I'm more than likely wrong. In any case, me and Alejandro unfortunately fell victim to the confusion as well, and he made questions for week 9 while I did week 10, haha. I wasn't there for the last class, but I hear you guys didn't have much time to discuss week 9...? So I'm just going to post all the questions we made. Hopefully we'll be able to talk about both weeks... somehow... lol

Okay here they are.

WEEK NINE

1. How does the growing demand for social reproductive labor (i.e. caregiving, babysitting, etc) redefine motherhood and marriage for the South Asian community that predominantly fills this expanding niche?

2. Philippine women have been dubbed "heroines" by their country for decreasing by 5$ billion dollars a year the country's 45$ billion dollar debt. Who else benefits from their labor? How do they repay these women? (Some starters: US and Philippine families, the Philippine state, US home healthcare system. Laws have been put in place to assist in migration. Pros and Cons?)

WEEK TEN

3. In what ways does the very structure of the garment manufacturing business cause/perpetuate the oppression of immigrant seamstresses? Describe some other social, cultural, or economic systems that give rise to unjust treatment of minority workers by their very natures. What are some ways to battle the effects of these systems?

4. Feminism is an integral part of AIWA's work. Discuss the intersection of the workers' rights movement and feminism/other self-empowerment movements.

Sorry about the confusion...

sick...

Hey guys,

I'm feeling horribly sick, so I won't be able to make it to class today. Sorry :(
Besides, I don't think you'd want me to spread my germs around either...

-Elaine

week 8?

i was looking online and i can't seem to find the week 8 readings. do we just read week 9?

late to class today!!

sorry guys stuck in lab and forgot my phone so i cant call :(

Hello Class

Hey Again,

I took a friend to Pomona Valley Hospital and we are now waiting in another lobby. I don't know anyones phone numbers, but I will try and get back to class before 8:00! See you all soon.

~Rebecca

Week Seven Readings!

Hey everyone, it's Rebecca. I am so sorry! I seem to have screwed up my dates when I wrote down what weeks I was doing... so I did not know I was scheduled for this week till just a few minutes ago. Sorry again!

The readings this week were definitely short, so I hope you all had a chance to read them.

Just a few thoughts on the readings to think about for this evening:

-As the readings are written from the perspective of a child and an adult looking back on their childhood memories, how might this affect your individual reading of it and the story itself?

-Both stories seem to be told almost through rose colored lens... does this come from the idea that children see the good in even bad situations? How much of what is being said is true/what might be being left out and/or for what reason?

-Would the situations be seen differently by an adult/another race/class/everyone in our class of 2010? What do these different views bring to the table? How do those view points positively and, perhaps, negatively affect our readings and discussions?

-There is obviously a difference in the two stories being told (age, language barrier, living situation, time period), but as they both are about the isolation of a minority group within a particular moment of history, what can be said about this issue and its relation to things happening now? (think about minority groups being banded together through work, oppression, living areas, etc)

As for comments this week, totally understandable if you did not have time. If you do have the time, you can comment on anything you would like. Hopefully you have all found some good things to share with the class on next years topic. See you in just a few hours!

Love,

Rebecca

Things to Do List

-Bring catagories for the syllabus
-Readings, films, field trips, speakers

Ad Board Spring Conference

You can RSVP with your meal card #'s to me at eoyang@hmc.edu

Week Six Discussion Questions

Here are some starter questions. Please answer one, or make up a question and answer it yourself. If you happen to think of a really good question, we might answer. :-D

1.At one point in the reading, N noted that many female workers feel obligated to remain “inside” and stick to domestic work in the manner perpetuated by their cultural traditions. What other factors might cause an undocumented worker to feel trapped in particular working situation?

2. There is a distinction between those who can hire and those who are hired. What is your take on this class difference situation as of now and then? Has there been any improvement since the publication of this reading? What factors do you think cause these differences? Do you have any personal experience with this issue?

3. In what ways do organizations such as Sakhi help the immigrant laborer? What should we focus on improving?

schedule

week 6- AF and JF

week 7- SP and RP

week 9- RP and JW

week 10- AF and JF

week 11- ID and CF

week 12- AF and JW

week 13- EO and JF

week 14- ID and CF

week 15- SP and EO

Sexuality Subtopics

= Post material you've researched on 'gender, sex, and sexuality' to decide subtopics
- Possibly look at posters, films, etc.

Syllabus

- Sexuality
= Using Pop Culture as a starting point or a section
-- Movies, Art, Literature
= Stereotypes of Masculinity, Femininity, Age, Gender, Sex, Sexuality, etc.
= Movements
= Find more substantial articles or books
-- use library as a resource or ask professors (from websites) for resources
= Definition of Sexuality (?)
= Title of Course?
-- Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
= Darrel Hamamoto
-- movement of creating 'yellow porn'
= Reasons: Spur discussion, generate interest, relates to other topics

For Next Time
= Research material to decide sub-topics

March 9 - Missing Class

Jessica Fong and I will be missing class on Tuesday, March 9 due to a choral performance.

Week 5 - Discussion Questions

Hi guys! Sorry this is very late! Here are some discussion questions.

1. Masson and Guimary discuss Pio de Cano's influence in the Pilipino community in Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Although he became a leader in the Pilipino Pacific Northwest Labourer Community, he was criticised for opposing unions and exploiting workers. What were some of the benefits and the damages he brought to the community?

2. Discuss the social, ethnic, cultural and 'mechanization' factors that inhibited the cannery workers from forming effective worker solidarity. Give suggestions on how to alleviate these.

3. Many Pilipino groups had difficult interrace relations until Virgil Duyungan and Aurelio Simon were assassinated. Would Pilipinos unite against other racial groups if they had not been asassinated?

Homework this Week

- Research syllabi for Asian American Sexuality, Education (and others if you want)
- Background Info
- Post any comments/ideas that you find or come up with here

- Blog Post!!
- Money if you want Kollaboration Tickets

- Post blog questions by Sunday at 4pm

Possible Field Trips

- Tuesday Night Cafe (April 20)
- Little Tokyo-ness (food+karaoke)
- Kollaboration
- Field Trip with Day Laborers, Pomona Day Laborers Center (Possible Class Project)
- Fernando Pedraza Memorial in Rancho Cucamonga (May 5)
- Union Organization Headquarters
- Japanese American Museum (Special Exhibit Feb 23 - May 30)
- Urban Farms

- Caesar Chavez Pilgrimage (Pomona Day Laborers Center) - Spang
- May Day March
- Association for Asian American Studies National Conference (April)

- AIWA, KIWA, PWC (Event or Speaker)
APALA - Jessica
AIWA - Jessica
KIWA - Elaine
PWC - Alejandro (March 22 Speaker and May Day projects?)

Wk 4: Filipino Farmworkers and the UFW

Hi there! Sorry for the short notice on readings and questions, but there were some technical mishaps in the process!

Below are some questions for you to think about before class today. Reflect on your readings and how they deal with today's topic: Filipino Farmworkers and the UFW.

1. Highlight the significant aspects of the Filipino-Chicano coalition in the Farmworkers movement as described in both of the readings. What are the strong points? What are the weaknesses? Do you believe that a stronger coalition was necessary?

2. Both readings significantly emphasized the importance of coalitions in activism. First of all, can you recall any other events in history where a coalition between two different ethnic groups of people was necessary for a movement to occur/to make a difference in a movement's outcome? What about Asian American history specifically? Finally, do you believe that multiracial coalitions are necessary in today's society for groups of people to organize on a single topic?

3. Beginning on pages 144 and 145 of Coalitions, Race, and Labor, the author Rony puts a good amount of thought into describing Filipinos as a minority within a minority, and how the earliest issue to building the coalition was distrust of the two racial groups to each other. Chicanos did not trust Filipinos, while employers simultaneously attempted to keep Filipino farmworkers under their control by threatening to remove seniority from the workers. This is a prime
example of a majority group attempting to pitting minority groups against each other. Is this a common tactic of majority groups throughout either American or Asian American theory? What does this do to the common movement of the minority groups? What impact does this
have on the majority group? What impact does this have on the minority groups? Finally, what was the outcome in this specific situation?

4. Last week, we discussed language issues as a subset of Asian American labor issues, and focused mainly on first, language as a barrier to understanding and trust, and second, language as a freedom to express one's culture. This week's readings brought about a new concept of language, where language is used as a tool to organize, as well as a tool to prevent organization of workers. Discuss these issues as they applied to the Filipino-Chicano situation.

A good resource to check out might be the UFW website: http://ufw.org
Go over their mission statement, vision, about us stuff and just how they define themselves.

Yay!

Wk 3: Asian American Labor History

Here are the questions to the readings for Week 3. Please choose 1 or 2 to write a short response to.

-------------------------------------------------
Chen's article:

1. Chen describes three forms of language-based discrimination. The
article provides a pretty straightforward definition of each of the
discrimination types, and claims that language discrimination leads to
issues regarding economic, civil, and labor rights of immigrant
workers. Have you ever encountered any experiences or conflicts of
language-based discrimination in your own life, that may or may not
necessarily be related to labor issues? Was the conflict ever
resolved? How so? What do you believe is the first step towards
eliminating this type of discrimination in the work place?

2. Chen describes that language discrimination occurs in many workplaces. Suppose you are an employer of a workplace, would you impose the "English-only" rules to your employees for the convenience of the workplace environment? Why or why not?

3. Do you feel that the employer should encourage and aid in the proficiency of his/her employees' English skills, given that most of his employees are immigrants?

----------------------------------------------

Shah's article:

1. The idea that the first step towards resolving labor issues is to
provide workers with the basic tools for understanding what they can
do for themselves is common of many organizations dedicated to helping
immigrant workers. However, as Shah describes, workers are often
afraid to fight for their rights for the fear of being terminated, for
the fear of being caught by the INS, or simply because it is not a
custom in their Asian cultures to stand up to authority. Do you
believe the Shah's approach of using attorneys to rally a few Asian
American workers in each case to lead the fight to be a good approach?
Why/why not?

-----------------------------------------------

Espiritu's article:

1. How has Asian American history, immigration laws, and the swapping of
gender roles defined the role of an Asian American woman and defined
the concept of family in terms of labor? Have these definitions
evolved since the 1930s? How so?

2. Based on Espiritu's article, how had the roles of Asian American women
changed during the era of large immigration to the United States? How had
those of the Asian American male migrant workers changed?

Ideas For Next Year's Course

Post possible topics for next year's ASAM 197 course here!!

Blog Check Week 1

Hey All! Can you guys all post a comment to make sure that you have been added as an author correctly?

--jessica