SumBlog 1: Globalization - Do our shoes reflect what we stand for?

The very first activity we did in Sociology of Globalization (Sociology 370) was one that I found to be very interesting and truly made me reflect on my morals and what I stand for. I researched a pair of shoes that I own, which is TOMS. I love these shoe, however I only knew the basic background of the company. Through my research I found positive aspects about the company as a whole. Blake Mycoskie founded the company in 2006. He did so after returning from a trip to Argentina. Seeing all the children whom did not have shoes bothered him. Although this is a for-profit company, TOMS are benefiting people by their “one for one movement”, for every TOMS shoe purchased, one new pair is given away to a child in need. Overall, the company’s employers are treated quite well and they are working in a safe environment.

I also own Nike shoes and apparel, and their company’s aspects are a lot more negative unlike TOMS. I started looking into Nike after I heard a couple different people in class discuss what they found when they researched their Nike shoes. What they said and what I found during my own research was very unsettling foe me. I am horrified about how they have treated their workers and what type of conditions they have had to work in. I watched a YouTube video on the sweatshops of Nike and honestly it makes you not want to purchase Nike shoes or clothes ever again.

So here's where my beliefs become conflicted. First off it is upsetting that TOMS shoes is so pro workers while Nike is clearly not (however they are working on making improvements). They are both a for-profit company but TOMS is definitely more of a classy who respects workers rights company. The second part that I have trouble digesting id that I own so much Nike aparell. How they treat their workers is no where near how a person should be treated. I am a big supporter of human rights and justice and I feel like Nike is almost the opposite. So if I am wearing Nike aparell does that mean I am supporting the way they treat their workers? I don't think it necsscarily is. But I am also not doing anything to improve the conditions because after all I am still purchasing from the company and therefore they are making money from me consuming their products. This is a question that conflicts with my morals and it is something that so many of us have a blind eye to.