migrant workers – who build the capital's offices and mansions, clean its streets and guard its security – have been shut down,
Tens of thousands of migrant children are left without schools
rural origin – a third of the city's 19 million population
day-to-day inju
stices
hukou (household registration), set up in 1958
control rural-to-urban migration
Peasants' role was to produce and feed the cities and support the modernisation process of their motherland.
as shown on their ID – no matter what they might choose to do. "Wo shi nongmin [I am a peasant],"
Deng Xiao Ping's gaige kaifang (economic reforms and opening up), in the late 1970s.
Agricultural production increased in the early stage of the reforms in "releasing the productive forces",
half of the 400 million rural working population have been pushed off the land, seeking a livelihood away from their villages.
As rural residents came to the cities, they immediately faced discrimination and exclusion.
They spoke their own dialects instead of "proper" Mandarin. Many faced verbal abuse as soon as they arrived.
the strict requirement for the unaffordable temporary residency permit, and the random street search by police.
The criteria for applying for a hukou remain harsh, and unreachable for most migrants, and many work for years without any status.
Without hukou,
healthcare, education and housing.
urban dwellers pay a minimal cost for medical care, many migrants have to return home for treatment.
"These children aren't treated as everyone else. They're called the mobile students, who can't go to state schools. Their parents have for years sent their children to privately run schools without proper facilities or curriculum."
hundreds such private schools were set up.
government-funded National Development and Reform Commission
admits it is an "institutional barrier"
government has shown no wish to listen to migrant workers' demands.
voice their discontent is by petitioning the local authorities
Little happens as a result.
Some suspect that migrant children's schools are being closed as a disincentive to future migration.
protests, road blockages, sit-ins and spontaneous strikes.
Hsiao-Hung Pai, Beijing
Migrants who toil in the cities still face a decades-old system of segregation and exploitation. But many are now demanding fairness
Urban childrens have free primary education while migrants children aren't be able to go to school because their parents cannot afford it. It costs 2/3 of their parents wages.
Migrants workers continue to be burdened with the hukou system. So they won't be able to access any services in the cities like: helthcare, education or housing. While urban dwellers pay a minimal cost for medical care, many migrants have to return home for treatment.
"Even the government-funded National Development and Reform Commission admits it is an "institutional barrier" and believes it should be scrapped. However, these institutions aren't in the position to change things. "Protection of migrant workers' rights" is a rhetorical statement of state organisations, but the government has shown no wish to listen to migrant workers' demands."
What? the government has shown no wish to listen to migrant workers demands? Why? They think they're rich so they don't care about other people? These governments should be in jail!
"Some suspect that migrant children's schools are being closed as a disincentive to future migration. "
What??? There's no reason why they hate the migrants workers and childrens! They're all from the same root!
They don't have a right to do this?
"In recent years, migrants have raised their demands through protests, road blockages, sit-ins and spontaneous strikes. Although these have not always proved effective, workers have become more aware of their collective strength. In the past year they have won some improvements in wages and working conditions. Many migrant workers, now better informed, are far less willing to accept the status quo. As they grow in confidence, the regime will find it increasingly difficult to ignore their demands. China's rulers should realise now that it is in their long-term interests to listen."
YES, they really should do this to show the government that they have a right to complain about what's right or wrong! If you're rich still doesn't mean that you have all the rights to do anything you want.
In China, poor migrants who earn a living by working low calss jobs in Beijing is treated unfairly. The chinese public schools, especialy nursery schools, would not let the migrant's children be enrolled. Yet, migrants are treated differently than Beijing citizens, and they can't have a normal life.
The beautician made assumptions to Suryatapa that the cause of her dark skin is the result of roaming in the sun, but in fact, Suryatapa was born dark skinned. This tells me that in India, dark skinned people are not properly welcomed
WHen Suryapata was a kid, people are her called names like "Darkie", "Blackie", and "Kaalia." Even when she is an adult, old friends call her names, and when she pointed that out, the friend told she was too sensitive.
My color defined me and it stuck.
self-conscious.
Kaalia, remember me? When I pointed out that it was insulting, I was called out for being “too sensitive.”
I have knowledge about neighbors, aunts, and strangers. Whenever they see you, they make staements, assumptions, and suggestions based on what you look. For instance, if you look skinny, they encourage you to eat more. If you look "dark," they make statements that you look really dark.
Well-meaning aunts and their neighbors worried about my marriage prospects.
Suryapata's aunts worried that her being dark skinned could affect her marriage, so they are worried, and suggest using homemade concoction, little less sun exposure, and extra layers of sandalwood paste.
Perhaps, they suggested, a little less sun exposure, or maybe a few extra layers of sandalwood paste or a homemade concoction that the neighborhood swore by?
I believe that the aunts never give up because they want Suryapata to look "whiter". Until she is totally bleached, then they will stop making statements and assumptions about her.
I wouldn’t let anyone touch my face.
The aunts sighed but never really gave up.
Instead, in this country, it is everyone’s business to correct it or cover it up.
I realize now that in India, it is everyone's business to correct or cover up one's dark skin. Even though it is a personal thing, it is open to the public opinion.
The personal is open to public opinion, whether it makes you squirm or not.
Few Indians seem to be comfortable in their dark skin.
So it is no surprise that a multi-billion rupee market in fairness products thrives in India.
whitened versions of themselves, urging you to pick up a tube or two of the latest product.
In this passage, the context relates to Vietnam. In the passage, it explains that in India, there are many advertisements and commercials on the latest product of lotions, soaps, and deodorants to make you "whiter". Similarly, in Vietnam and internationally, the market of products of whitening cream and other lotions or soaps is thriving. Everyone that is looking forward to a "whiter" skin is urging to buy these products.
From lotions and soaps to whitening underarm deodorant; every body part it seems is could be a few shades lighter.
Urban legends abound of how turmeric and milk, with their blood cleansing properties, had turned someone’s friend’s sister into a fair maiden – so I gulped down this vile concoction, gagged and never touched it ever again.
adolescent weakness,
I too was convinced to go on a regimen of drinking milk with crushed turmeric.
When Suryapata was a teenager, like most teens nowadays, she was convinced in using products to make her look "better". But when she was an adult, she care less for these products and feel more comfortable and contented about herself. This shows that teens are usually not happy about the way they look, so they do stupid things that can harm themselves.
As an adult I’ve become much more comfortable with the color of my skin.
Before reading this article, I already know that in the US, having dark skin is a good aspect, and many people even look forward to tanning. But in India, people are being discontented by the dark skin.
Over a decade of living in North America – where tans are pursued and Halle Berry is a beauty icon – helped that.
So when I moved back to India, I was surprised and offended all over again, as I confronted people who still think porcelain skin is the epitome of beauty.
society that embraced a wider spectrum of skin tone.
Victorian ideas of beauty,
“Do you do tanning?” I was dumbstruck and could barely stammer out a surprised “no.”
In retrospect, her assumption says a lot about how Indians equate skin tone with beauty, confidence and social standing.
Suryatapa Bhattacharya is the India correspondent for “The National” newspaper.