The Terror of the Machine: Technology, Work, Gender, and Ecology on the U.S.-Mexico Border (CMAS Border & Migration Studies Series)

Born of thirteen years of field research, this interdisciplinary work explores the complex intersections of technology, class, gender, and ecology in the transnational milieu of Mexico's maquiladoras, foreign-owned assembly plants located along the U.S. border. Devon Pe?a examines workplace and community struggles from the perspective of the women who work in the maquiladoras. He describes the workers' struggles for workplace democracy, social justice, and sustainable development. He also observes the circulation of struggle from the factory to the community, highlighting the efforts to establish worker-owned cooperatives in the border region during the 1970s and 1980s. Female maquila workers are typically portrayed as passive, apolitical, and easily exploited. This book, however, presents an opposing view, investigating the "subaltern life of the shop floor"--the workers' informal methods of resistance to hazardous conditions, sexual harassment, and managerial tyranny. Using survey research, oral history, discourse analysis, and site ethnography, the author develops a cogent critique of labor-process theory, a critique grounded on his extensive study of actual workplace politics in the maquiladoras. The Terror of the Machine is a trenchant analysis of the political, cultural, and environmental effects of maquila industrialization and an eloquent and persuasive call for alternatives in the direction of ecologically sustainable and culturally appropriate modes of development. Born Of More Than Ten Years Of Field Research, This Wide-ranging, Interdisciplinary Work Explores The Complex Intersections Of Technology, Class, Gender, And Ecology In The Transnational Milieu Of Mexico's Maquiladoras, Foreign-owned Assembly Plants Located Along The U.s. Border. Using A Full Palette Including Survey Research, Oral History, Discourse Analysis, And Site Ethnography, The Author Delineates The Dialectics Of Domination And Resistance In The Maquilas, And Develops A Telling Critique Of Labor-process Theory - A Critique Grounded On His Extensive Study Of Actual Workplace Politics In The Maquiladoras. Writing With Grace, Passion, And Scholarly Rigor, Devon Pena First Locates The Maquila Industry Within The History Of Workplace Organizations. He Then Examines Border Workplace And Community Struggles From The Perspectives Of The Women Who Work In The Maquiladoras - Devoting Ample Space To The Workers' Own Narratives. He Describes The Workers' Struggles For Democracy And Social Justice In The Workplace, And For Sustainable Development. He Also Observes The Circulation Of Struggle From Factory To Community, Highlighting The Efforts To Establish Worker-owned Cooperatives In The Border Region During The 1970s And 1980s. The Terror Of The Machine Is A Trenchant, Vivid Analysis Of The Political, Cultural, And Environmental Effects Of Maquila Industrialization, And An Eloquent And Persuasive Call For Alternative Modes Of Development That Are Ecologically Sustainable And Culturally Appropriate. Pt. 1. The Terror Of The Machine. 1. No Terrors, To A Certain Kind Of Mind 2. From Dark, Satanic Mills To Maquilas. 3. (mis)measuring The Ignorant -- Pt. 2. Terrains Of Struggle. 4. Like Turtles On The Line. 5. The Mirror Of Exploitation -- Pt. 3. Mothers Of Invention. 6. Mexican Thinkwork. 7. Marginality As Inventive Force -- Pt. 4. Back To The Future. 8. Mexico In The Fast Lane? 9. Promised Land Or Wasteland? Devon G.peña. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 391-431) And Index. Born of thirteen years of field research, this interdisciplinary work explores the complex intersections of technology, class, gender, and ecology in the transnational milieu of Mexico's maquiladoras, foreign-owned assembly plants located along the U.S. border. Devon Peña examines workplace and community struggles from the perspective of the women who work in the maquiladoras. He describes the workers'struggles for workplace democracy, social justice, and sustainable development. He also observes the circulation of struggle from the factory to the community, highlighting the efforts to establish worker-owned cooperatives in the border region during the 1970s and 1980s. Female maquila workers are typically portrayed as passive, apolitical, and easily exploited. This book, however, presents an opposing view, investigating the'subaltern life of the shop floor'—the workers'informal methods of resistance to hazardous conditions, sexual harassment, and managerial tyranny. Using survey research, oral history, discourse analysis, and site ethnography, the author develops a cogent critique of labor-process theory, a critique grounded on his extensive study of actual workplace politics in the maquiladoras.The Terror of the Machine is a trenchant analysis of the political, cultural, and environmental effects of maquila industrialization and an eloquent and persuasive call for alternatives in the direction of ecologically sustainable and culturally appropriate modes of development.