Walk in My Shoes: Nike's Sweatshops (A Culture Jamming Documentary) | Bonettwork

Summary

In this eye-opening segment, former American soccer player Jim Katy spends a month living on the wages of Nike factory workers in Indonesia, specifically in the industrial suburb of Tangerang. With just $1.25 a day, he experiences the hardships faced by these workers, losing 25 pounds due to hunger and exhaustion. The video highlights labor activists' accusations against Nike for exploiting workers in substandard conditions. The segment also features an interaction with a Nike executive, challenging them to experience life on those same wages. The video sheds light on the stark contrast between corporate profits and the dire realities of laborers.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker and a group of people travel to Tangerang, Indonesia, to live as factory workers in a Nike factory, with the goal of understanding the lives of Nike workers. They plan to live on $1.25 a day for a month.
• 😀 The goal of the experiment is to experience firsthand the struggles of Nike's workers and gain a better understanding of the conditions they endure.
• 😀 Tangerang, an industrial suburb of Jakarta, is depicted as a harsh and challenging environment for factory workers.
• 😀 Nike is portrayed as a company with a sophisticated sports research lab focused on improving athletic performance, but the contrast between their innovation and the workers' conditions is highlighted.
• 😀 Nike faces criticism from labor activists for encouraging low wages and poor working conditions in its factories in Indonesia.
• 😀 Jim Keaney, a former American soccer pro, spends a month in Jakarta's slums, trying to survive on the wages of a Nike worker, during which he loses 25 pounds due to hunger and exhaustion.
• 😀 Keaney emphasizes the physical toll of living on a Nike worker's salary, stating he was constantly hungry and exhausted.
• 😀 Keaney challenges Nike executives, proposing that they live on workers' wages for a month to better understand the workers' struggles and improve conditions.
• 😀 A humorous moment in the script involves Keaney attempting to invite a Nike CEO to visit Indonesia, offering him a ticket and joking about the offer.
• 😀 The script briefly touches on broader socio-political issues in Indonesia, mentioning an underdeveloped country with a repressive regime and referencing the Cultural Revolution, suggesting a difficult environment for workers.

Q & A

What was the main objective of the experiment conducted by Jim Katy in Indonesia?

The main objective was to live as Nike factory workers lived, experiencing their daily lives and wages to understand the conditions they faced. Jim Katy lived on a factory worker's wage of $1.25 a day for a month.

How much weight did Jim Katy lose during the month-long experiment?

Jim Katy lost about 25 pounds during the month he spent living on the wages of a Nike factory worker.

Where did Jim Katy live during his time in Indonesia, and why is this location significant?

Jim Katy lived in Tangerang, an industrial suburb outside of Jakarta. This location is significant because it is where many Nike factories are based, and it reflects the harsh conditions that factory workers face in Indonesia.

What was the main criticism of Nike regarding its factory workers in Indonesia?

Nike was criticized for encouraging low wages and inhumane working conditions at its factories in Indonesia, with labor activists accusing the company of exploiting its workers.

How did Jim Katy feel physically during his time in Tangerang?

Jim Katy felt hungry, tired, and exhausted nearly every day. He described the experience as physically draining, to the point where it affected his overall health.

What offer did Jim Katy make to a Nike Executive during the interview?

Jim Katy offered to return to Indonesia for another month, this time with a Nike Executive, to live on the wages of the factory workers and experience the conditions firsthand.

What was Jim Katy’s proposal to the Nike Executive in terms of living conditions?

Jim Katy proposed that a Nike Executive live with him in Indonesia for a month, on the same wages as the factory workers, to see if the Executive's views on Nike's treatment of workers would change after the experience.

What was the response of the Nike Executive when Jim Katy offered tickets to Indonesia?

The Nike Executive rejected Jim Katy’s offer, stating that he wasn't interested in going to Indonesia or experiencing the conditions there.

How did the conversation between Jim Katy and the Nike Executive illustrate the divide between corporate executives and factory workers?

The conversation highlighted the disconnect between corporate executives and the realities of the workers in Nike’s factories. While Jim Katy was willing to experience the conditions firsthand, the Nike Executive refused to engage, showing a lack of willingness to understand or address the workers' struggles.

What cultural and political context is mentioned in the script, and why is it relevant?

The script mentions Indonesia's repressive regime and its history, such as the Cultural Revolution. This context is relevant as it underscores the challenging environment factory workers in Indonesia face, both politically and economically, which adds complexity to the labor conditions there.