Though many do not know where the clothes they are buying come from or how they are made, it is a very sad world behind the “fashionable” clothing thats at a cheap rate. This is the definition from Wikipedia that will basically sum up what a sweatshop is; “A sweatshop is a working onment with very difficult or dangerous conditions, usually where the workers have few rights or ways to address their situation. This can include exposure to harmful materials, hazardous situations, extreme temperatures, or abuse from employers. Sweatshop workers are often forced to work long hours for little or no pay, regardless of any laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labor laws may also be violated.” Now that sweatshop has been defined, there are many points that need to be brought to one’s eyes about a sweatshop.

Sweatshops are in almost every country and they are in the thousands. They have been around for hundreds of years and for many this is the only way of life. It is very difficult in the conditions that they have to work in and especially harder on children that have been forced to be there. Sweatshops have very dangerous working conditions that most of the people here in the US would not even think of entering. The wages are the lowest of any job out there, if you would even consider this a job. There are a lot of other factors that also play into these sweatshops. Women and children are taken advantage of and are abused, sexually and physically. We spend thousands of dollars a year on clothing and only dollars in the 20’s go to these workers.

Sweatshops are a horrible way of life and thinking. Though many of us will not change what we buy or how we do things there are many organizations out there that are trying to change things for those who are not as fortunate as we are.

I would love for you all to check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MljpjyQ-E-M

Work cited: http://www.wikipedia.com/ ; http://www.darhtmouth.com/