It certainly is interesting to learn of more modern immigration, and the contemporary situations of immigrants in New York City in both Foner, and the two articles. Eden asked if we believed the differences outweighed the similarities. I agree with Foner when I say yes: not only are modern immigrants more skilled, they have technology on their side. Learning a foreign language or a skill is easy to do now, countless tutorials are only a google search away. Not to mention the standard of living is undoubtedly rising across the world because of both the presence of technology, and the lowering cost of said technology.
While it is sad to learn that sweatshops still exist here, it is also a breath of air to learn of the improved conditions of women- and their chances at increased social and economic independence. Regarding Eden’s question on women, I certainly do not believe that a low-salary job reinforces the low status of women. As we read, it actually justified the social equality of women in many households. Woman have not reached the pinnacle of social and economic equality, but I believe that in specialized workplaces, and in culture-neutral workplaces they are close! Perhaps there are certain instances were a male-chauvanist establishes a glass ceiling with his female employees, but it goes both ways. There are many jobs in which females only hire females (just like the instances we saw where minorities only hired those in their own co-ethnic group).
I also found Chin’s article intriguing, how she examined the reasons behind economic disparity in different races. Lee also delved into this when she described the difference between the sweatshops of different nationalities- the innate cultural and social differences that was the basis for the difference in conditions for the workers there.
