SOCIAL REPRODUCTION-PART ONE.
Sociology scientifically studies the behaviour of humans. Social reproduction is one school of thought from sociology. French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu did extensive work on the subject matter and his analysis will be used in the following study. The following URL provides further information on the other contributors to social reproduction as a school of thought.
www.crab.rutgers.edu/~ccoe/MacLeod1.pptWhat is social reproduction? Social reproduction is defined as how each generation of a group of people reproduces itself and passes on the traits to the next. A society consists of different groups. Each group will socially reproduce over a period of time. However society will not reproduce an exact replica of itself due to modernisation, changes in customs, laws and mores. Yet the same economic structure would remain if nothing is done to remedy inequalities. As a result social reproduction and changes in the economy have a symbiosis relationship. The term 'economy' can be defined as the means that answers the questions: What to produce? How much to produce? How to distribute the wealth? Etc.
Furthermore one country’s social reproduction is linked to other countries. The linkage is attributed to globalisation. Globalisation is the liberalisation of trade amongst countries to exploit comparative advantage. Comparative advantage is the ability of one country to produce a good at a cheaper cost than another.
One side effect of globalisation is the migration of people seeking higher wages amongst undeveloped, developing and developed nations. An undeveloped nation is defined as not utilising its resources fully for the benefit of its people. A developing nation is using its resources i.e. labour, etc. but not at maximum potential. A developed nation utilises its resources at a full potential.
One of example of migrant labour for higher wages is Caribbean people mostly the women who seek jobs such as child care in developed nations. The family in the developed nation may have additional income to pay for the services of the migrant labour because of the economy and its distribution of wealth. The social result in the developing nation or undeveloped nation is what Trinidad parlance terms as “barrel children”. The woman’s child or children stay with a close relative or friend. Monetary items are remitted to the child or children from the parent.
There are other social costs associated with social reproduction. The costs can be viewed on the following URL:
http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/feb2498.htmWhy is an understanding of social reproduction important? Social reproduction when used as a tool for analysis clarifies a number of issues that face the Negro Race.
Black slaves were emancipated in British colonies in 1834. Spanish and French colonies followed but Portugal only fully emancipated slaves brought from Angola to Brazil in 1880. Directly after slavery was abolished the Negro should have been given back governance of his affairs in all things economic, social, political and intellectual, therefore being truly emancipated.
Negroes were not truly emancipated. Instead Negroes were segregated, further dehumanised and obstacles placed in the way of development. This period after slavery was the starting point of the new challenges faced by Negroes that reverberated through the century.
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