Anth 103 essay
Nicole Polich
Professor Rosas
ANTH 103
30 March 2012
Hard Work Overlooked
The current controversy over Mexican undocumented workers in America plays a significant role in my personal life. As a high school student, I worked in a local sushi restaurant for over a year, having first-hand experience with undocumented workers. My experience is supported throughout the ethnography, Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network by Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz. The busboys that I worked with are extremely similar to the ones described in the ethnography known as “The Lions” in the way in which they constantly work hard and are very valuable to the restaurant’s success. Although Mexican undocumented workers are so valuable to businesses, they are paid very low salaries that do not properly compensate their accomplishments. Undocumented workers should be respected and appropriately paid because of their outstanding effort and commitment to their work, making them irreplaceable. Anyone who works with undocumented workers can’t deny the obvious dedication and worth ethic of their fellow employees. This dedication allows other employees to think positively about the undocumented workers. Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz states, “It is not surprising that many American workers who spend their days working alongside undocumented immigrants develop friendly relationships with them” (Gomberg-Muñoz 51). This quote is very accurate when describing the working experience with undocumented workers. Not only are they great coworkers, they are also great workers in general. At Il Vino, the restaurant that The Lions work at, the general manager describes the men as phenomenal workers and there is a unanimous agreement at Il Vino that Mexican immigrant busboys are the best workers at the restaurant (Gomberg-Muñoz 82-83). Although these men are the hardest workers around, they are only paid a low hourly salary, which does not match the effort and the work they are providing. These
Professor Rosas
ANTH 103
30 March 2012
Hard Work Overlooked
The current controversy over Mexican undocumented workers in America plays a significant role in my personal life. As a high school student, I worked in a local sushi restaurant for over a year, having first-hand experience with undocumented workers. My experience is supported throughout the ethnography, Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network by Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz. The busboys that I worked with are extremely similar to the ones described in the ethnography known as “The Lions” in the way in which they constantly work hard and are very valuable to the restaurant’s success. Although Mexican undocumented workers are so valuable to businesses, they are paid very low salaries that do not properly compensate their accomplishments. Undocumented workers should be respected and appropriately paid because of their outstanding effort and commitment to their work, making them irreplaceable. Anyone who works with undocumented workers can’t deny the obvious dedication and worth ethic of their fellow employees. This dedication allows other employees to think positively about the undocumented workers. Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz states, “It is not surprising that many American workers who spend their days working alongside undocumented immigrants develop friendly relationships with them” (Gomberg-Muñoz 51). This quote is very accurate when describing the working experience with undocumented workers. Not only are they great coworkers, they are also great workers in general. At Il Vino, the restaurant that The Lions work at, the general manager describes the men as phenomenal workers and there is a unanimous agreement at Il Vino that Mexican immigrant busboys are the best workers at the restaurant (Gomberg-Muñoz 82-83). Although these men are the hardest workers around, they are only paid a low hourly salary, which does not match the effort and the work they are providing. These
Cited: Gomberg-Muñoz, Ruth. Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network. New York, NY: Oxford University Press , Inc. , n.d. Print.