Fort Myers Beach Sweat-Shirt

When walking into a store, my first thoughts are not wondering where the products came from. Although, every product comes from somewhere and many come from other countries. Many workers in other countries work hard to complete these products on time and do not make nearly enough compared to how hard they work. When buying these products, as a consumer, we are indirectly supporting the company and the workers. Therefore, as we purchase these products we are providing for the other countries such as Honduras, Costa Rica, and China.
One of my favorite articles of clothing I own is a Fort Myers Beach sweatshirt. This sweatshirt was made in Honduras. I bought this sweatshirt for $20, from a shop on a beach when I was in Florida with my best friend
in the spring. It is a very comfortable sweatshirt and it keeps me warm when I wear it. Clothing represents a person’s style or their personality. It represents that I have traveled to another place and that I enjoy traveling. When I wear this sweatshirt, it keeps me warm and comfortable, which reflects my laidback personality.
According to a chart from Business Insider, the minimum hourly wage is less than a dollar per hour. The unemployment rate in Honduras is high and many labor codes regarding time off are ignored. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. There is a higher poverty rate in places that lack industries and infrastructure. (World Factbook) Honduras has a poor education system which effects the amount of skilled workers in the area. They are charged tuition after age 13 if they continue with their education. As a result, general education is low and there is limited training when a person is hired at a place. (Nation’s Encyclopedia)
Land in Honduras, is divided by families for farming, but because of lack of harvesting techniques and erosion the crops are not as plentiful. This creates problems for families that depend on their crops and cannot afford to buy many groceries. This is a problem across Honduras because wages are so low which effects the people’s diet and may create health problems. Many people live in one or two bedroom huts which are not kept particularly clean and may causes illness. (Country Studies)
A home furnishing item, that was made in China, is my white down comforter. I bought this comforter for approximately $70, when I moved into my apartment and got a different bed. I love how comfortable it is when I sleep at night. I have my down comforter on top of my bed which represents atmosphere in my bedroom. The colors or patterns of bedding on a person’s bed represents their style and personality. The quality of the bedding represents a person’s class as well.
Factories in China have horrible working conditions.
Most people have to work many hours, 11-13 hours, a day which gives them enough time to go home to eat and sleep. When there are new products released people often sleep at the factory instead of going home. If goals are not met by a certain time, lunch breaks are canceled. Workers do not regularly get days off and trips to visit their family happen once a year. In addition, workers are exposed to harmful substances that may cause health problems. (Facing Finance)
People’s living conditions are an improvement from working conditions. Their housing is much nicer, but is too expensive for many people. Wages are too low for people to be able to afford a decent place to live. Although, most people make enough to afford food and basic needs. Their living conditions have improved dramatically from 1980’s because of the economic reforms. (County Studies)
A food item grown in Costa Rica is a banana. Bananas are one of my favorite fruits because it has a great amount of nutritional value, fairly inexpensive, and are tasty. Bananas have essential nutritional values that humans need in their everyday lives to function properly. Many places including grocery stores and gas stations sell bananas for around 50 cents a pound. They are a healthy food which could represent that a person is healthy and cares about their body. Many athletes eat them after a workout to restore nutrients lost in the
workout.
Costa Rica has low wages, but their cost of living is lower than the United States. They have universal access to education, healthcare, clean drinking water, sanitation, and electricity. Like the other countries, workers in businesses like the banana plantations are working long hours often without being paid overtime. Employers often work around laws that they need to follow when providing benefits. (Food is Power)
Many industries around the world are not suitable condition for people to be working in comparable to what we have discussed in class. Many people need the job to support themselves and their families so they stay in their careers. When buying these items, I do not think about the amount of labor someone has put into picking, packaging, or making the item. It is something to consider when buying certain products because you are supporting the business and the workers.