World Regional Geography Discussion and Virtual Lab – South Asia Module

(IMPORTANT: If you have trouble with the second link, try a different browser or device)

Summary: It is easy to pick up an inexpensive UTC shirt from the bookstore or an academic club, but how did that article of clothing make it from being raw cotton to a declaration of your school spirit? For this assignment, you will learn about the realities of clothing manufacturing around the world, with a special focus on South Asia. The objective of this assignment is to further explore concepts of globalization, neo-colonialism, and income inequality.

As an aside, this is one of my favorite discussions and one that students have really enjoyed in the past! Be sure to block out enough time to watch/experience/learn from the media linked below. I look forward to reading your responses!

Part 1 – Watch and Learn

Watch the following multimedia story by NPR’s Planet Money from start to finish (six short chapters: intro, cotton, machines, people, boxes, you) and answer the questions as you watch. It should take 20-30 minutes to complete.

Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt series link

About how many t-shirts were produced by cotton grown on the featured farm? How are government subsidies involved?

What similarities does garment manufacturing in other countries have with the U.S. in the early 20th century?

Why is so much produced in Bangladesh?

What was the cost of the shipping, per shirt?

What was the most interesting and/or surprising and/or important thing you learned from the series? (If you feel you learned nothing new, find something new to learn about it and share that! Or tell us what you think the most important takeaway is.)

1. Part 2 – Watch (and read and listen) and Learn: Part Deux
2. Watch the following interactive documentary about the Rana Plaza Collapse in Bangladesh by The Guardian from start to finish and answer the questions as you watch (it takes roughly 25-45 minutes to go through the interactive, depending on your pace).
3. The shirt on your back interactive documentary link (Click “enter” on the preview slide, it may take a moment to load. if you have trouble with the page loading, try a different browser or device)
4. Why did Mahmuda and her husband, Habibullah, start working in garment manufacturing?
5. What do they mean by “Fast Fashion,” why is it important?

How much has production in Bangladesh increased over the last decade? What can this be attributed to?

During the time you spent in the interactive, how much money did Mahmuda make? How much did U.K. retailers make?

Estimate how much of your income you spend on clothing ____% (I wouldn’t say it’s a meaningful measure of anything, but it’s interesting to see the wide range in the discussion!). How frequently do you buy clothing?

What was the most interesting and/or surprising and/or important thing you learned from the series? (If you feel you learned nothing new, find something new to learn about it and share that! Or tell us what you think the most important takeaway is.)

Part 3 – Reflect

Reflect on what you just learned from the interactive documentaries

What techniques are used by the makers of these documentaries to create more compelling and/or immersive learning experiences?

1. What do you think about these forms of storytelling? Does it change the way you understand an issue like this one? Why or why not?
2. Is there such a thing as an “ethical consumer”? Why or why not? (What would that mean if so?)
3. What role do you play in this global market, how far did the shirt on your back travel? (Literally. That is, look at the tag and see where it came from and share!)