Ongoing reports of poor working conditions in Chinese factories are nothing new, but for some reason, in reading a story yesterday called "Undercover Report From Foxconn's Hell Factory", about the deplorable conditions and rising suicide rates in Apple's Chinese production facilities, I was particularly touched. But not because I feel compelled to make any kind of social or political statement against China or these conditions. After all, at the heart of this particular news story is an American company. I am a Mac user and I guess that would make me a hypocrite. Plus, I believe we should never judge an entire county based on negative news reports - there is also a lot of good in China and many young people do have opportunities to grow and succeed there. My sadness is from the prospective of the mother of a child born in China, and thoughts of what her life could have been like had she not had the opportunity to be adopted.
My daughter spent the first 9 or so months in a Chinese orphanage before joining our family to live in America. I am thankful that she was given the opportunity to be raised with a loving family (not specifically OUR family but A loving family). She is a brilliant, funny, creative, athletic, loving person with a quick wit and freely-given hugs. I often wonder what her life would have been like if she had not had the chance to grow and nurture these characteristics that make her such a special person.
Am I saying that she is better off growing up with Americans? No, that would be quite arrogant. I think it would have been ideal for her to grow up in China with a nurturing Chinese family where she could know and embrace her culture. However, she was not given that opportunity. Nevertheless, given the choice of growing up in an orphanage, or in a loving family outside of China, I think the choice is clear. Chances are, if she had never been adopted out of the orphanage, she would have grown up with little or no education and would have likely ended up eventually working in one of China's exploitative factories. Her spirit would have been destroyed and that is an unbearable thought.
I can't imagine being the mother to any other little girl and in my heart believe we were meant to be family. People comment to me that my little girl is so lucky and in the grand scheme of things I guess she is. Still, I usually respond to them that I am the lucky one to have been allowed to be her mother. As for the other children (primarily girls) still living in the Chinese orphanages, I can only pray that they be allowed to grow up with loving families either in China or somewhere else. Many US adoption agencies are discontinuing their Chinese adoption programs for a number of reasons (which I won't go in to here). I know loving parents who have already been "in line" for years waiting to bring a child home. I only hope their dreams do come true. All children deserve to grow up in the best environment possible with people who care about them and their futures.
As for the conditions in the iPad factory? I pray that conditions will improve so that those employees can be recognized for the individuals they are, and that those individuals will have opportunities to improve their lives and situations.
I agree. Hard to look at conditions as a 'stand alone' issue. You have to look at the workers and how their lives must be.
So how must their childrens' lives be?
I'm also an adoptive momma. My 2 eldest are siblings, adopted in the USA.
People also say 'they're so lucky' -- NOT TRUE!
I am blessed. I am highly favored among women. THEY made me a momma and I get the privilege of enabling them to grow into the young man and woman they were created to be.
Adoption is an incredible option.
internationally or here at home
Thanks Cheryl for an insightful post
Carrie Wilkerson
The Barefoot Executive
http://theBossMovie.com
Posted by: Barefoot_exec | May 21, 2010 at 08:11 PM