Cori Schumacher, Longboard champion, has written about why she is boycotting the Women’s World Longboard Tour:
My decision to boycott this and other World Longboard Tour events this year, is an attempt to use the platform I have to focus attention on the significant movements of the ASP World Tour, surf companies who are currently doing business in China, and those who are in the process of moving their manufacturing there.
She goes on to discuss China’s One-Child Policy and “‘single-minded pursuit of economic growth’” that has created large inequalities specifically for women as well as censorship, low labor standards, and oppression of its citizens.
While her intentions are good I think she’s going about this the wrong way. And by boycotting the World Tour, she is doing nothing but hurting herself. I’m all about taking a stand for what you believe in and she is definitely in a position to be heard, but she can be so much more affective while still competing.
Here are two reasons why what she is doing will not be that affective:
First, if these surf companies want to competitively survive in today’s market, they have to move their manufacturing to countries that provide lower costs. If they don’t, competitors from these exact countries can come in and wipe them out with cheaper products. I don’t think the U.S. Government will be in a hurry to be protecting the U.S. surf industry anytime soon.
Second, this issue is obviously bigger than just the surf industry. There are many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fighting to make changes in China and in other countries as well. They are making improvements but very slowly.
The problem is money. Almost every policy enacted by a government is influenced by it; without money there is very little support. There are labor standards in the WTO, but they are not always upheld because it hurts the end economic goal.
As I said in my previous post, Good for Her, women’s surfing is relatively small and I don’t think her boycotting will gain much support from surf companies. If anything, she should be working with them (sponsoring, competing, etc.) to make the sport even better. The key to influencing these large surf corporations are the consumers not the surfers. Short of Kelly Slater and a few others, many of these guys can just be replaced. There are so many unknown talented surfers out there. Plus, she can donate her winnings to organizations that have more power.
All that aside, I respect her a lot for standing up for what she believes in. If we all did that than there really would be change.
I have to agree with you that while her actions are admirable, they may not be as impactful as one would hope. It certainly doesn't help that she's a champion in a sport where females don't seem to get as much exposure and attention.
ReplyDeleteIf she made this move to stay true to the person she wants presented to the public, then all the power to her - it is her choice to tackle her career and values as she may. I'm sure she knows it's difficult for one person to make a difference, but I'm very glad she's trying. It's like you said, if we all took a stand/were as self-sacrificing, things might be different.
The ironic thing about Cori Schumacher's criticisms that today's post-Mao China has gender inequality issues is that pre-Communist China was vastly more unequal. In fact, one of the platforms that Mao adopted very early on his his campaign was that of anti-Confucianism and, particularly, the anti-hierarchy that is inherent in Confucianism. It was under Mao that women were allowed to step out of the home, decide their own marital fate, and have a place in the economy. And since Mao, women's rights in China have only increased.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, the U.S. criticizes China's human rights violations in a public document. This year, the U.S. accused China of not giving its people enough religious freedom and freedom of expression, among other issues. But what isn't as well-publicized is that every year, China fires back at the U.S. with just as much vehemence, releasing a document on the U.S.' human rights violations. This year, the Chinese document accused the U.S. of still having massive issues with racism, and an economic set-up that allows many people to fall through the cracks and not be able to support their families.
Before Schumacher uses her limited fame as a social platform, I suggest she sit down and educate herself.
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I didn't know that, cool.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm supposed to be commenting on your blog, so I will.
ReplyDelete