Labor and Legality Essay - 631 Words

Wordup Labor and Legality Essay August 9, 2011 In her book, Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network, Ruth Gomberg-Muà ±oz describes the lives of ten busboys, she referrs to as the Lions, living and working in the Chicago area. Gomberg-Muà ±oz provides an insight into the lives of these undocumented Mexican workers. They share their stories of crossing the border, the affects of their absence on family back in Mexico, and the daily struggles of living in a country without the benefits of citizenship. The Lions, as well as other undocumented Mexicans, have to face Americans stereotypes every day. Probably the biggest stereotype the Lions contend with is the belief that all Mexicans are hard workers. The word†¦show more content†¦This statement leads one to believe that the Lions have taken the expectations that Americans have set for them and made them a part of their social identity. While the Lions’ actions may make the hard-working Mexican stereotype seem innocent enough , it can lead to employers taking advantage of undocumented workers. Americans have a bit of a record regarding the exploitation of immigrants. In her book Gomberg-Muà ±oz relates how when the United States needed more workers they opened their arms to Mexicans. However, when the economy begins to slow down, the first people asked to leave and give up their jobs are the very same people they invited and encouraged to come. Since many business owners were used to employing Mexicans, they still hire them although it is against laws and regulations. Americans using undocumented Mexican workers tend to pay them less, put them in more dangerous jobs, and make them work harder because they believe Mexicans love to work. While this is great for America and American businesses, it is not as beneficial to the Mexicans they take advantage of. Gomberg-Muà ±oz’s book provides the reader with an inside prospective of the lives of undocumented Mexicans. It shows what it is like for peopl e working to help forward themselves and their families in Mexico and The United States. Contrary to some Americans belief that Mexicans want to take over the United States, the majority of the Lions justShow MoreRelatedThe Ethnography Labor And Legality1233 Words   |  5 PagesSarah Rodrigues Dr. Melissa Goodman Elgar Anthropology 101.02 10 December 2015 Labor and Legality The ethnography Labor and Legality is based on the experiences of ten different undocumented immigrant men living and working in the Chicago area. These men have been called the Lions by the author because they all originate from the same city in Mexico called Le?n. These men differ meaningfully in their beliefs, experiences, and plans for the future, but they also have important things in common. TheyRead MoreLabor And Legality : An Ethnography Of A Mexican Immigrant Network Essay907 Words   |  4 PagesLabor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network, by Ruth Gomberg-Munoz, is a book that explains the difficulty of Mexican immigrant lifestyles, which has gained the attention across the country especially since Donald Trumps’ recent statements against these people, as illegal civilians come from Mexico to work in America. Gomberg-Munoz tries to give us an understanding of the life of these people. Gomberg-Munoz’sRead MoreCulture: Labor And Legality. Being Inside A World That1260 Words   |  6 PagesCulture: Labor and Legality Being inside a world that is not your own, a world that is so different from your beliefs and ideas. A world whose culture is different from yours. Where the work ethic, home life, and family connections all differ. Imagine a world in which people are judged based on the color of their skin without giving them a second look or listening to their story; listening to where they are from. This is a common trend in American society; a society where we commonly think is equalRead MoreSummary Of Ruth Gomberg Munoz s Labor And Legality1187 Words   |  5 Pages Ruth Gomberg-Muà ±oz’s, Labor and Legality is a book written on the Mexican immigrant network in the U.S. She centers it on the Lions, a group of Mexican men from Leon, Mexico that all share their lives and help explain the many networks and strategies that are used in order to excel and gain happiness. There have been many different sorts of misconceptions about immigrants, and in recent years about undocumented immigr ants from Mexico. The U.S. has made a sort of war on illegal immigrants andRead MoreThe Book Labor And Legality : An Ethnography Of A Mexican Immigrant Network By Ruth Gomberg Munoz1160 Words   |  5 Pages The book ‘Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network’ by Ruth Gomberg-Munoz explains the hardships that surround the Mexican immigrant network. Over the years the ‘undocumented’ workers coming to America from Mexico has increased which has gained the attention of the American government and the media, as it is ‘illegal behavior’. Gomberg-Munoz attempts to create an understanding of the lives of these workers by telling individual’s personal stories. The author reports theRead MoreAn Analysis Of Ruth Gomberg Munoz s Labor And Legality : An Ethnography Of A Mexican Immigrant Network1444 Words   |  6 PagesEtic and Emic Analysis of Culture In Ruth Gomberg-Muà ±oz’s book, Labor and Legality: An Ethnography of a Mexican Immigrant Network, she allows us to enter the everyday lives of ten undocumented Mexican workers all living in the Chicago area. Ruth Gomberg-Muà ±oz refers to Chuy, Alejandro, Leonardo, Luis, Manuel, Omar, Rene, Roberto, Lalo, and Albert the ten undocumented Mexicans as the â€Å"Lions†. This book shares the Lions many stories from, their daily struggle of living as an undocumented immigrantRead MoreCase Study : Good Or Service773 Words   |  4 Pagescompany specializing in the sale and construction of pools. 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