Bangladesh: On the Ladder of Development

Jessica Ruiz-Jones

ENG 299

02/01/2014

In the article “Bangladesh: On the Ladder of Development,” readers are surprised with an alternative point-of-view regarding sweatshops in third world countries. We hear horror stories all the time regarding unsafe working conditions, the use of child labor, and long hours for little pay. In the past, I have used the rhetoric given from stakeholders on one side of this issue to form my opinion, but this article opened up my mind to other ideas. The author reveals to a diverse audience that, although we are bombarded with the negative aspects of sweatshops, they provide women the opportunity to step out of their societal expectations and strive toward a higher level of independence.

The author of this work, Jeffrey D. Sachs, has a long list of accomplishments. The director of The Earth Institute, he is a recognized authority figure when it comes to the combination of economic development and environmental sustainability. As a result of his line of work, Mr. Sachs has had the unique opportunity to see both sides of the story regarding the use of sweatshops in the production of millions of items we use every day.

Bangladesh may not seem like a prosperous country to the average person, but Sachs takes a great approach to succeed in his goal of helping those living in countries such as the United States understand that things aren’t always as they seem. His goal in writing this piece is to bring exposure to the positive aspects of what seems to be a problem, and he took a great approach in convincing his audience, which would consist of anyone wanting to better understand the working conditions of sweatshops, that there is another side to the story that most of us are not aware of.

Sachs used a combination of appeals in order to reach his goal of informing his audience of the information he wished to share. He started off with providing a logical structure by explaining what happened in Bangladesh in 1971. At this time, they won their independence from Pakistan. As with any war, the immediate result was famine and disease (Global). Because of this, the state of Bangladesh seemed to be in disarray, and it was even called an “international basket case” by a State Department official. It is at this point that the author moves in another direction and begins explaining that things are actually looking up for Bangladesh. He uses statistics to show readers that areas such as life expectancy are on the rise, and this helps the reader switch gears.

While it is clear that the author sees a glimmer of hope for those living in Bangladesh’s less-than-perfect environment, he does acknowledge the fact that there are serious problems, and this helps him develop character to the reader. He is not afraid to admit that there are two sides to the story, and this aids the delivery of his claim in appearing well-thought-out and reliable.

Sachs further develops credibility in his account of the garment factories he has visited all over the world. The average reader has likely only heard that sweatshops are bad, and the evidence to suggest so is obvious. However, based on his first-hand experience, Sachs is able to shed light on the fact that these jobs make it possible for women to advance in their society. In a society where women are expected to marry someone wealthy and live their lives at the demands of their husbands, there are few options of escape. Sweatshops allow these aspiring women to have the opportunity to make a living on their own. Sachs makes the valid argument that this is a first step in the right direction for a woman seeking to gain the independence that would otherwise be nearly impossible for her to attain. This explanation takes the reader into the world of these women, and it evokes a sense of sympathy. Women in the United States have the ability to decide if they wish to be a homemaker, work a nine-to-five job, or enter college and pursue a career of her choice, and I feel that Sachs made good use of pathos in opening the eyes of the readers to the reality that not all countries offer women the same advantages that are available to males.

Sachs did a great job at incorporating logos, ethos, and pathos evenly throughout the course of this reading, and this is what made the article interesting and easy to digest. Statistics are introduced when appropriate to help drive his point home, and they are often disguised into entertaining dialogue. For example, when delivering statistics on how many workers wanted children, he incorporates personal data he acquired through an independent survey. This allowed for easy readability.

Sachs uses a clever synthesis of pathos and logos from the start. As he pulls the reader in, he disguises the gloomy statistics plaguing Bangladesh following their war for independence in 1971 through the use of descriptive imagery and detail. Readers are felt sympathizing with the strife of the people while receiving statistical information that helps them understand the facts surrounding the theories.

Furthermore, Sachs provides a number of life-experiences that have led him into the development of the way he sees the sweatshop employee. From the very beginning of the article, he explains that he used to share the same common mindset when it came to sweatshop labor. It was not until he read an article in a Bangladesh newspaper that he was exposed to another possibility. This makes him highly credible and unbiased with a strong appeal to ethos. His skill in utilizing Aristotle’s three appeals made the article one that keeps the reader’s attention and convinces them that there is more to the issue than they likely even considered.

In his writing, Sachs had a goal of correcting the misconception that no good can come of the employment of people to work for low wages in bad working conditions. While there are obvious problems with the concept of the sweatshop, they offer an alternative way of life for those choosing to take these positions. Sachs was efficient in presenting the point of view that there are positive aspects of the sweatshop life and they are responsible for the advancement of many women in Bangladesh.

Works Cited

Global Issues, Local Arguments. “Bangladesh: On the Ladder of Development.” Jeffrey D. Sachs. Pearson.